A pilot study of an online workplace nutrition program: the value of participant input in program development.

OBJECTIVE

Tailored nutrition Web programs constitute an emerging trend in obesity prevention. Initial investment in innovative technology necessitates that the target population be well understood. This pilot study's purpose was to determine the feasibility of a workplace nutrition Web program.

DESIGN

Formative research was conducted with gaming industry employees and benefits managers to develop a consensus on workplace-specific nutrition needs. A demonstration Web program was piloted with stakeholders to determine feasibility.

SETTING

Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and New Jersey gaming establishments.

PARTICIPANTS

86 employees, 18 benefits managers.

INTERVENTION

Prototype Web program.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Concept mapping; 16-item nutrition knowledge test; satisfaction.

ANALYSIS

Concept mapping was used to aggregate importance ratings on programmatic content, which informed Web program curriculum. Chi-square tests were performed postintervention to determine knowledge improvement.

RESULTS

(1) Employees and benefits managers exhibited moderate agreement about content priorities for the program (r = 0.48). (2) There was a significant increase in employees' nutrition knowledge scores postintervention (t = 7.16, df = 36, P < .001); those with less knowledge exhibited the greatest gains in knowledge scores (r = -0.647, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Employees and benefit managers do not necessarily agree on the priority of nutrition-related content, suggesting a need for programs to appeal to various stakeholders. Computer-based approaches can address various stakeholder health concerns via tailored, customized programming.