Dutch research into the development and impact of computer-tailored nutrition education

The aim of the present paper is to describe the essential elements of computer-tailored nutrition education and to study the impact of written computer-tailored nutrition education in comparison to general written nutrition advice.

The impact of computer-tailored nutrition education was studied in three randomised trials as compared to general nutrition education. The data of the three studies were taken together and re-analysed.

Random samples of employees at two work sites and a self-selected sample of the Dutch adult population. The total number of subjects was 1309. Response rates were between 45% in one of the work sites and 88% in the self-selected sample.

Subjects in the experimental condition received computer-tailored nutrition education. With computer-tailoring, expert individualised nutrition education can be realised through an automated process for relatively large target groups with relatively low costs per person.

The impact on changes in fat intake were studied. The use and appreciation of the intervention was also assessed.

Subjects who received computer-tailored advice had a lower mean fat score at post-test, adjusted for baseline intake levels. Subjects who received tailored advice were more likely to have read and discussed the nutrition advice.

The results point to the conclusion that printed computer-tailored nutrition education is superior to general written nutrition education.