Development and Validation of a Stages of Change Algorithm for Calcium Intake for College Female Students
2002
Tucker, L.J. | Snelling, Anastasia M. | Adams, Troy B.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a staging algorithm for calcium intake. Methods: Three hundred seventy-six college-aged females at a private university were randomly selected to participate. After 8.5% of the data were omitted due to incomplete surveys, the sample consisted of 344 female participants. Calcium intake was measured as self-reported consumption with a 26-item food frequency questionnaire. Stages of change classifications were based on a four-item algorithm for calcium intake, and self-efficacy was measured with three items. Results: Significant differences were found between calcium intake levels between precontemplation, contemplation/preparation and action/maintenance. Results also showed that 40% of the participants were in action/maintenance and were consuming the Dietary Reference Intake level of 1,000 mg of daily calcium. Participants in the action and maintenance stages had significantly higher self-efficacy than the preaction group. Conclusion: The study suggests that the stages of change algorithm may be used as an effective tool in assessing daily calcium intake among a college female population.
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