Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1.
One-month behavior change among intervention and control patients.
Note: The bars portray the percentage of patients whose behavior improved at 1 month (n = number of patients whose behavior changed). The comparison is among patients who indicated a change in behavior. Proportional change was computed as behavior improved ÷ (100% - no change). Some round-off error may have occurred. The P value is based on Fisher’s exact test,13 comparing intervention with control percentage improvements.
Additional Files
Supplemental Appendix
PDF file, 21 pages, 445 KB
Files in this Data Supplement:
The Article in Brief
Background One challenge medical professionals face in helping patients adopt healthy behaviors, such as exercise and stopping smoking, is connecting them with high-quality information. This study looked at whether patients were more likely to pursue healthy behaviors if they were referred to a Web site with health information and resources that were tailored to their specific needs.
What This Study Found An interactive Web site can be an effective tool to encourage patients to pursue healthy behaviors. Medical practices face challenges, however, in fostering use of such a Web site: although patients in this study expressed interest in the site, only a small percentage actually visited it.
Implications
- Web sites can help practices extend educational outreach beyond the time and place of the patient visit.
- Convenient access to the most appropriate information may help empower patients.
- An interactive Web site may be most effective as part of a set of tools designed to promote health behavior change.
