ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to measure the effectiveness of interactive multimedia (IMM) with low-income Hispanic persons. DESIGN: The effectiveness of the program was examined using a quasi-experimental pretest/post-test control group design. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from nutrition, health, and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in Colorado. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six intervention and 34 control participants formed a convenience sample of low-income and predominantly Hispanic persons. INTERVENTION: Intervention participants received a 15-minute module about breakfast. Control participants received a non- nutrition-related IMM module. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary variables included knowledge, attitude, and stage of change scores. ANALYSIS: Paired and independent sample t tests, chi-square analysis, and repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used. RESULTS: Intervention participants significantly increased knowledge, attitude, and total scores (P <.001) between pretest and post-test and had significantly greater increases than the control group (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results support using IMM to disseminate nutrition education to the target population and the feasibility of using computer-based questionnaires to evaluate the effectiveness of IMM nutrition education programs. IMPLICATIONS: This research provides the basis for the continued development of computer-based assessment tools.
