Abstract
In 1998, the Heart and Stroke Foundation launched the HeartSmart™ Family Fun Pack, a “user-friendly” resource to support family-based lifestyle changes among children age 6–12 years. Of 1,387 parents who completed a pre-intervention questionnaire, 300 (21%) were surveyed three months later. Comparisons of the pre- and post-intervention surveys show that the Family Fun Pack was effective in supporting healthy lifestyle changes (38% and 28% of families reported improvement in their child’s nutrition and level of physical activity, respectively; 12% reported reduced passive smoking). Effectiveness was greatest among those families who self-identified themselves as being in what corresponds to the contemplation, preparation and action stages of change. This evaluation suggests that a relatively low-cost intervention can be effective in supporting positive lifestyle changes if targeted to families at specific points in the stages of change.
Résumé
En 1998, la fondation des maladies du cœur a lancé sa pochette „ Du plaisir Cœur atoutMC pour toute la famille ”, un produit convivial qui encourage les familles à modifier le mode de vie de leurs enfants de 6 à 12 ans. Un sondage téléphonique auprès de 1 387 parents qui avaient demandé à recevoir la pochette a été effectué afin d’en évaluer l’efficacité. De ce nombre, 300 (21 %) familles avaient accepté de recevoir un appel de suivi trois mois après le contact initial. Les résultats du sondage préliminaire et de l’enquête de suivi révèlent que la pochette a aidé les familles à apporter des changements pour améliorer leurs habitudes de vie (38 % d’entre elles déclarent qu’elles ont réussi à améliorer les habitudes alimentaire de leurs enfants, 28 % qu’elles font plus d’exercice physique et 12 % qu’elles ont réduit l’usage du tabac à la maison lorsque les enfants sont présents). La pochette a obtenu plus de succès auprès des familles qui affirmaient être à l’étape de réflexion, de préparation ou d’action du processus de changement. L’évaulation démontre que les programmes d’intervention à faible coût peuvent être efficaces pour inciter les gens à améliorer leur mode de vie pourvu que la population cible ait déjà atteint certaines étapes précises du processus de changement.
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