2019 Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 330-338
Objective: This study aimed to examine the characteristics of cues specified in action plans for eating behavior changes with respect to each diet level.
Methods: In this qualitative study, we examined action plans for eating behavior changes formed by 252 people participated in the six-month specific intensive health guidance program provided by the national health insurance of Higashimurayama City in Tokyo from 2011 to 2015. We grouped the action plans in accordance with contents and categorized them into meals, dishes, foods, or nutrients levels. We then extracted the cues that specified when, how often, where, and how to act from the action plans, and examined the characteristics for each diet level.
Results: Participants formed 447 action plans (minimum one to maximum four per person, average (SD) = 1.8 (0.8)). Action plans of the meals, dishes, foods, and nutrients level were 88 (19.7%), 87 (19.5%), 249 (55.7%), and 23 (5.1%), respectively. Action plans of the nutrients level contained neither cues that specified when, how often, nor where to act. Cues about how to act came in a variety of contents and they were often related to "changing the contents of diet," "setting days not to drink alcohol," and "being careful."
Conclusion: In the action plans for eating behavior changes formed by the participants of this specific intensive health guidance program, the largest number of action plans was found at the foods level. Action plans at the nutrients level contained no cues that specified when, how often, or where to act.
