Encouraging Young Adults to Make Effective Nutrition Choices: MENU Gen Y Study

描述（由申请人提供）：为了支持NIH改善人们健康和支持健康生活方式的目标，我们将进行一项随机试验，以评估一种针对年龄的基于网络的干预措施，旨在改善年轻人（21-30岁）的饮食，因为他们正在经历一个更独立的新生命阶段。我们研究的目标是增加1980年或之后出生的年轻人（称为“Y一代”（GenY））的每日水果和蔬菜（FV）摄入量，使用吸引这一群体的相关特征。这个为期五年的项目分为两个阶段。在第一阶段，我们将使用焦点小组来确认计划的关键干预要素，这些要素针对GenY的需求和偏好，并将在干预中建立参与度，同时我们将修订我们经过测试的有效的基于互联网的干预（做出有效的营养选择或菜单，U19-CA 079689）。菜单研究旨在支持增加FV摄入量，并且仅依赖于电子媒体（互联网和电子邮件）。在拟议的研究中，我们将修改菜单课程，应用针对年龄和理论为基础的方法，以提高干预参与和GenY饮食行为改变的有效性。干预措施将使用三个心理社会特征，这些特征已按年龄组进行了实证检验：社会认知理论，自我决定理论（SDT），特别注意社会营销理论（SMT），该理论强调了解整个环境，以更好地塑造健康沟通。在制定我们的计划时，我们将应用发展心理学中有关GenY的知识，由我们的顾问指导，并对我们的初步研究和第一阶段GenY焦点小组中收集的个人，环境和社会因素进行形成性研究。焦点小组成员将评估我们经过验证的菜单干预，以及我们修订后的年龄针对性，互动的“菜单一代”干预之前，发射。在第二阶段，我们将评估MENU GenY干预措施的有效性，包括通过电子邮件自我发起的个性化电子教练支持的附加值，作为定制在线干预的补充。具体而言，使用来自两个地理上不同地区的1624名年龄在21 - 30岁之间的成年人的样本，（底特律市区和宾夕法尼亚州农村），并采用随机化的三臂设计，II期的主要目的是1）确定是否有年龄目标，与无年龄目标的非定制干预组相比，基于网络的定制干预在改善每日FV摄入量方面更有效（控制臂）; 2）确定具有年龄目标和个性化电子辅导支持的定制的基于网络的干预是否比对照更有效;以及3）确定具有年龄目标和电子辅导的定制的基于网络的干预是否比仅具有年龄目标的定制的基于网络的干预更有效。 公共卫生相关性：越来越多的证据表明，由于生活方式的选择和不健康的饮食，健康风险增加，除非做出改变，否则年轻人的预期寿命将下降。Menu Gen Y研究将调查和评估参与和支持年轻人改善饮食选择的方法，这些年轻人年龄在21岁至30岁之间，正在经历一个更加独立的生活阶段。如果我们的干预取得成功，我们的目标是使用新的传播媒体，并评估针对年龄的在线饮食行为改变计划，这将提供机会分享基本策略，以达到这一研究不足和脆弱的人群，帮助降低疾病风险，并最终建立持久的健康饮食习惯，以帮助下一代-他们的孩子。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In support of NIH goals to improve people's health and support a healthy lifestyle, we will conduct a randomized trial to evaluate an age-targeted web-based intervention designed to improve the diet of a young adults (ages 21-30) as they navigate a new life stage of greater independence. The goal of our study is to increase daily intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) for young adults born in or after 1980, known as "Generation Y" (GenY), using relevant features that appeal to this group. This five-year project has two phases. In the first phase, we will use focus groups to confirm planned, key intervention elements that target needs and preferences of GenY and will build engagement in the intervention, as we revise our tested, effective Internet- based intervention (Making Effective Nutrition Choices or MENU, U19-CA079689). The MENU study was designed to support an increase in FV intake, and relied solely on e-media (internet and email). In the proposed study we will revise the MENU curriculum, applying age-targeted and theory-based methods to improve intervention engagement and effectiveness for GenY dietary behavior change. The intervention will use three psychosocial features which have been subject to empirical examination by age group: Social Cognitive Theory, Self-Determination Theory (SDT), with special attention to Social Marketing Theory (SMT), which emphasizes understanding the total environment to better shape health communications. In developing our program, we will apply knowledge about GenY from developmental psychology, guided by our consultants and formative research on individual, environmental and societal factors collected in our preliminary studies and Phase I GenY focus groups. Focus group members will evaluate our validated MENU intervention, as well as our revised age-targeted, interactive "MENU GenY" intervention prior to launch. In the second phase, we will evaluate the efficacy of the MENU GenY interventions, including the added value of the self-initiated, personalized e-coaching support by email, as a supplement to the tailored online intervention. Specifically, using a sample of 1624 adults, ages 21 - 30 and from two geographically distinct regions (urban Detroit and rural Pennsylvania), and employing a randomized, three arm design, the primary aims of Phase II are to 1) determine if an age-targeted, tailored web-based intervention is more efficacious in improving daily intake of FV compared to an untailored intervention arm with no age targeting (control arm); 2) determine if a tailored web-based intervention with age targeting and personalized e-coaching support is more efficacious than the control; and 3) determine if the tailored web-based intervention with age targeting and e-counseling is more efficacious than a tailored web-based intervention with age targeting alone. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: As growing evidence points to increased health risks due to lifestyle choices and unhealthy eating, young adults are facing a declining life expectancy unless changes are made. The MENU Gen Y study will investigate and evaluate ways to engage and support improved dietary choices for young adults, who, at ages 21 through 30, are navigating a more independent life stage. Should our intervention be successful, our aims to use new communication media and evaluate an age-targeted online dietary behavioral change program will provide the opportunity to share essential strategies to reach this under-studied and vulnerable population, help reduce disease risk, and ultimately build lasting healthy dietary habits to help the next generation - their children.