Using "point of decision" messages to intervene on college students' eating behaviors

Abstract

Purpose: Examine the impact of "point of decision" messages on fruit selection in a single dining hall setting.

Setting: Competitive undergraduate liberal arts college in the southeastern United States.

Intervention: "Point of decision" messages were compiled into a 35-slide multimedia PowerPoint presentation. Messages were displayed on a computer screen at a "point of decision" between the cookie and fruit stations during lunch for a total of 9 days.

Measures: Baseline cookie and fruit consumption was measured 9 days prebaseline and 9 days postbaseline. A random sample of students completed surveys 1 week after the intervention.

Analysis: t-tests were used to examine differences between prelevels of fruit consumption and levels measured simultaneously during "point of decision" messages. Descriptive statistics were used to examine perceptions of survey items 1 week postintervention.

Results: A significant mean difference in daily fruit consumption was found following the slide presentation (df-8, t=-2.800; p=.023). Average daily fruit consumption at baseline was 408 (SD=73.43). Postbaseline average daily fruit consumption significantly increased (533; SD=102). No significant prebaseline and postbaseline cookie differences were found (p=.226). Approximately 71% of women and 68% of men noticed the "point of decision" messages. Nineteen percent of women and 10% of males reported modifying their food selection as a result of viewing the messages.

Conclusion: The "point of decision" messaging significantly influenced fruit selection in a single dining hall setting.