Multiple Health Behavior Changes and Co-variation in a Telephone Counseling Trial

Abstract

Background Delivering effective multiple health behavior
interventions to large numbers of adults with chronic
conditions via primary care settings is a public health
priority.
Purpose Within a 12-month, telephone-delivered diet and
physical activity intervention with multiple behavioral
outcomes, we examined the extent and co-variation of
multiple health behavior change.
Methods A cluster-randomized trial with 434 patients with
type 2 diabetes or hypertension were recruited from 10
general practices, which were randomized to receive
telephone counseling or usual care.
Results Those receiving telephone counseling were significantly more likely than those in usual care to make greater reductions in multiple behaviors after adjusting for baseline risk behaviors (OR 2.42; 95%CI 1.43, 4.11). Controlling for baseline risk and group allocation, making changes to either physical activity, fat, vegetable, or fiber intake was associated with making significantly more improvements in other behaviors.
Conclusions
For patients with chronic conditions, telephone
counseling can significantly improve multiple health behaviors, with behavioral changes tending to co-vary.