Robert J. Bensley, PhD¹, John J. Brusk, MPH¹, Nelda Mercer, MS, RD, FADA², Judith V. Anderson, DrPH, RD², Deanne Kelleher, MS, RD², and Diane Revitte, MPH². (1) eHealth Behavior Management Team, Western Michigan University, HPER Department, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, 269-387-3081, bensley@wmich.edu, (2) WIC Division, Michigan Department of Community Health, 2150 Apollo Dr., P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, MI 48909

www.wichealth.org is an Internet-based approach, based on the Transtheroretical Model of Stages of Change, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Persuasive Communication, and is designed to impact nutritional eating by aiding WIC clients in moving toward action oriented parent-child feeding behavior. Modules focus on providing regular meals and snacks, dealing with picky eating, providing a healthy eating environment, and developing parent-child feeding roles and trust. www.wichealth.org has been found to be popular among clients and effective in assisting them move toward action in all modules. Over 15,000 clients completed a module during the first 18 months of implementation, with meals and snacks being the most popular module (50% of all site usage), and maintenance and action being the most popular beginning stages (over 80% of all client stage entry points). Nearly 80% of client access occurs from home, work, or a parent’s home. Results indicate most clients in earlier stages moved toward action, with greater movement occurring with extinguishing the negative behavior associated with child picky eater habits. Results also indicated strong belief in the usability and helpfulness of this approach, with 80-90% of all clients indicating they (1) learned something that will help their child’s eating habits, (2) learned something that will help them change the way they feed their child, and (3) believe they can make changes using what they learned. The results associated with this project support the use of the Internet as a viable and relevant means for addressing behaviors, especially for individuals in the later stages of readiness to change, associated with key public health issues.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine the impact an Internet-Based approach can have on parent-child feeding behavior among WIC clients.
• Explore how the eHealth Behavior Management Model can be used to move individuals toward an action stage of health behavior change.
• Identify the inherent challenges associated with implementing and evaluating an Internet-based behavior change process.

Keywords: Internet, WIC

Related Web page: www.wichealth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.