An Individualized Intervention for Prevention

Diane Lauver, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN

This study explores the premise that if people with sedentary lifestyles and unbalanced diets could improve their preventive behaviors, then they could decrease their risks for developing major chronic diseases and improve their overall health. 

The purpose of this research is to test a patient-centered intervention designed to promote health behaviors and improve health outcomes.  Patient-centered interventions are customized for individuals or groups on certain characteristics such as beliefs or behavioral intentions, and are well-suited to promotion of preventive behaviors.

A one-group, pretest, posttest design will be used to
· assess the feasibility of a customized goal-focused intervention,
· describe changes in preventative behaviors, and
· examine the sensitivity and distribution of health outcome measures.

Participants (N=40) will be sought from primary care clinics throughout the community. They will receive a goal-focused intervention that is participant-directed and professionally facilitated by an advanced practice nurse. Pre and post-intervention, we will assess engagement in the preventive behaviors of activity and diet.

Findings about feasibility and behavior change will guide the revision of methods to test the efficacy of a goal-focused intervention in a larger, randomized, controlled trial