Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mail-based intervention using the TAKE10! Program to improve dietary habits in cases where direct intervention is not possible.Methods Subjects aged 70-91 years (77.6±5.0) were randomly assigned to two groups: 72 in the intervention group and 71 in the control group. The intervention group received monthly mail, which included self-check sheets (TAKE10! Check sheet and TAKE10! Calendar) and a letter with feedback and comments for 5 months. The outcome measures were changes in the intake frequency of 10 food groups, Dietary Variety Score (DVS), and Food Frequency Score (FFS).Results Compared to baseline, the post-intervention intake frequencies for 9 of 10 food groups, DVS, and FFS significantly increased in the intervention group. No significant differences were observed between baseline and post-intervention in the control group. In the subgroup analysis of the intervention group, post-intervention DVS and FFS of both subjects who cooked their own food and those who did not showed significant increases compared to baseline.Conclusion The mail-based TAKE10! Program resulted in improved dietary habits and could be shared with families in addition to direct interventions and could also be used in regions with inadequate transportation systems or frequent poor weather conditions.
Keywords: community-dwelling older adults; dietary diversity; dietary habit; long-term care prevention; mail-based intervention.