THE BENEFITS OF USING MICROCOMPUTERS IN HEALTH INSTRUCTION INCLUDE MINIMAL COST, MAXIMUM TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS, AND FLEXIBILITY TO MEET INDIVIDUAL LEARNING NEEDS.

THE BENEFITS OF USING MICROCOMPUTERS IN HEALTH INSTRUCTION INCLUDE MINIMAL COST, MAXIMUM TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS, AND FLEXIBILITY TO MEET INDIVIDUAL LEARNING NEEDS. ALTHOUGH MANY NUTRITION SOFTWARE PROGRAMS ARE USED IN HOME, HOSPITAL, AND CLASSROOM SETTINGS, NO SUCH SELF-HELP PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN TESTED IN THE SUPERMARKET WHERE CONSUMERS MAKE FOOD POINT-OF-PURCHASE DECISIONS. SUBSTANTIVE DATA EXIST LINKING DIET TO CANCERS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, BREAST, AND OTHER SITES. THIS PROJECT WILL DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MICROCOMPUTER-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION IN THE SUPERMARKET AND ITS IMPACT ON FOOD PURCHASE/CONSUMPTION. USING GRAPHICS AND A TOUCH SCREEN MICROCOMPUTER, A NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL BE DEVELOPED THAT INCLUDES FOUR INTERACTIVE LEARNING MODULES ON FAT AND FIBER INTAKE RELATIVE TO CANCER RISK. THE PROGRAM WILL BE TESTED IN TWO STORES; A THIRD STORE WILL PROVIDE THE CONTROL GROUP. THE PROJECT TEAM COMPRISES A SENIOR NUTRITIONIST, HEALTH EDUCATOR, HOME ECONOMIST, SENIOR PROGRAMMER, AND CONSULTANTS IN EVALUATION AND FOOD RETAIL. PHASE I EVALUATION RESULTS WILL REVEAL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PROGRAM USERS AND NONUSERS, KNOWLEDGE GAINS BY PROGRAM USERS, PROGRAM IMPACT ON SHORT- AND LONG-TERM FOOD PURCHASE/CONSUMPTION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE II IMPROVEMENTS BY THE SUPERMARKET INDUSTRY.