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Development and validation of a stages of change algorithm for calcium intake for college female students
L J Tucker1, Anastasia M Snelling, Troy B Adams
1Department of Health and Fitness, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a staging algorithm for calcium intake.
Methods:
Three hundred seventy-six college-aged females at a private university were randomly selected to participate. After 8.5% of the data were omitted due to incomplete surveys, the sample consisted of 344 female participants. Calcium intake was measured as self-reported consumption with a 26-item food frequency questionnaire. Stages of change classifications were based on a four-item algorithm for calcium intake, and self-efficacy was measured with three items.
Results:
Significant differences were found between calcium intake levels between precontemplation, contemplation/preparation and action/maintenance. Results also showed that 40% of the participants were in action/maintenance and were consuming the Dietary Reference Intake level of 1,000 mg of daily calcium. Participants in the action and maintenance stages had significantly higher self-efficacy than the preaction group.
Conclusion:
The study suggests that the stages of change algorithm may be used as an effective tool in assessing daily calcium intake among a college female population.