Table 2

Outcome effects* and validity scores of reviewed studies

Study

Dietary Behavior

Physical activity

Weight reduction

Internal validity (%)

External validity (%)

Physical activity

Hurling (2007) [21]

+^a

89

44

Marcus (2007) [22]

+^b (6 months only, not maintained at 12 months)

89

56

Spittaels (2007b) [24]

+^b

56

78

Steele (2007) [25]

(+)^a

89

44

Marshall (2003) [31]

(+)^c(sub) (for those not active at baseline only)

78

67

Napolitano (2003) [32]

+^b

67

44

Hager (2002) [34]

(+)^d+^e(sub) (for males only)

56

39

Pinto (2002) [35]

+^f (3 months only, not maintained at 6 months)

67

67

Combined physical activity, dietary behavior &/or weight reduction

Booth (2008) [19]

(+) fat only^f

(+)^f

(+)^f

56

67

Cook (2007) [20]

(+)^g (overall diet including fat)

(+)^g

(+)^g

67

33

Spittaels (2007a) [23]

(+)^dh

(+)^dh & +^dh(sub)

78

72

Vandelanotte (2005 & 2007) (6 month post-test) [27]

+ fat^b

+^b

44

56

(2 yr follow-up) [26]

(+) fat^h

(+)^h

Winett (2007) [28]

+ fibre, F&V^b

M^b

+^b (3 months only, not maintained at 6 months)

89

61

Hageman (2005) [29]

M-^d

+/-^d

78

56

Kypri (2005) [30]

+ F&V^b

+^b

56

39

Veverka (2003) [33]

ND

+^b

78

39

Key:

+ significant difference over time between treatment & control group OR significant difference between groups at post-test

(+) significant difference within groups over time but no significant difference between groups

+/- conflicting results

M positive effects on behavior mediators but not on actual behavior

M – negative effects on behavior mediators

(sub) outcome effect only for sub sample (1 worksite, n = 57)

ND no difference

*Outcome effects are reported for the effect of the computer-tailored intervention group as compared to the following control groups:

a Tailored (personal) verbal

b No treatment control group

c Tailored print comparison group

d Generic computerized comparison group

e Computerized comparison group with different method of tailoring

f Comparison treatment group on different/additional targeted behavior

g Generic print comparison group

h Comparison group of lower intensity

Neville et al. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009 6:30   doi:10.1186/1479-5868-6-30