A multi-media behavior change program for nutrition and physical activity in primary care: Pace+for adults

Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise plus Nutrition (PACE+) is a program that uses multiple communications media to help adult patients change their physical activity and dietary habits for chronic disease prevention. Implemented within the primary care setting, there were three major components. First, patients completed a computerized assessment and created specific, tailored action plans to change one physical activity and one nutrition behavior. Second, the plans were discussed with the health care provider. Third, extended interventions were conducted by mail and telephone. The purpose of the current study was to compare various extended interventions. All participants (n=173) received the computerized assessment and provider counseling and were then randomized to one of four extended intervention conditions: control, mail only, infrequent phone and mail, and frequent phone and mail. Acceptability and feasibility of the computer program were high. The extended interventions were rated as very helpful, but they did not improve outcomes over the computer and provider counseling components. However, targeting a specific behavior to change did result in greater improvements. This study suggests that multi-media interventions within the health-care setting are feasible and may be effective.