Objective: With the help of the ‘OPTIMAHL 60plus’ counselling aid, it is intended to improve the nutritional and physical activity behaviour, the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of life, and the autonomy of people above 60 years of age. Due to their complexity, currently available didactical counselling aids are not considered suitable for this target group. In order to develop an effective counselling aid for the elderly, the target group is involved in the development process.
Design: The intervention study comprises the participatory development of the instrument ‘OPTIMAHL 60plus’ (through focus groups) and the evaluation of the intervention programme (intervention and control groups). The results of the evaluation will be presented in forthcoming articles.
Methods: Intervention mapping is applied in a modified form to develop the counselling aid. By means of focus group discussions, the expectations of the target group are analysed in a participatory way. Disadvantaged elderly and those with or without a migrant background are involved.
Results: The counselling aid, in the form of a checklist, records individual nutrition and physical activity behaviour, including feedback on target and performance as well as advice for improvement.
Conclusion: When developing age-based counselling aids, particular support in structuring, reminding and simple handling must be taken into account.
WHO Regional Office for Europe.Active Ageing: A Policy Framework (pp.1-60). Geneva: WHO, 2002.
2.
US Dept of Agriculture (USDA).The food guide pyramid. A guide to daily food choices. Home and Garden Bulletin, 1992: 252: 1-2.
3.
Murphy SP, Barr SIFood guides reflect similarities and differences in dietary guidance in three countries (Japan, Canada, and the United States). Nutrition Review, 2007: 65(4): 141-148.
4.
Reinhardt WC , Brevard PBIntegrating the food guide pyramid and physical activity pyramid for positive dietary and physical activity behaviors in adolescents . Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2002: 102(3 Suppl): S96-S99.
5.
Park Nicollet Health Source.The Activity Pyramid. NCES. 2008. Online. Available: http://www.ncescatalog.com/shopexd.asp?id=74 (10 September 2008).
6.
Corbin CBPhysical Activity Pyramid for Teens. Fitness for Life. 2008 . Online. Available: http://www.humankinetics.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0736050981 (15 September 2008).
7.
Stehle P., Oberritter H., Büning-Fesel M., Heseker H.Grafische Umsetzung von Ernährungsrichtlinien- traditionelle und neue Ansätze. Ernährungsumschau, 2005 : 52(4): 128-135.
8.
US Dept of Agriculture (USDA).My pyramid. USDA: MyPyramid.gov. 2008. Online. Available: http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html (17 September 2008).
9.
Kanfer FHThe many faces of self-control, or behavior modification changes its focus . In: RB Stuart (Ed) Behavioral Self-management (pp.1-48). New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1977.
10.
Kanfer FHImplicatons of a self-regulation model of therapy for treatment of addictive behaviors. In: WR Miller, N Heather (Eds.) Treating Addictive Behaviors: Processes of Change (2nd edition). (pp.272-314). New York: Plenum, 1986.
11.
Karoly P., Kanfer FHSelf-Management and Behaviour Change: From Theory to Practice. New York: Pergamon, 1982.
12.
Schefft BK, Lehr BKA self-regulatory model of adjunctive behavior change. Behavior Modification, 1985: 9(4): 458-476.
13.
Perez-Rodrigo C., Wind M., Hildonen C., et al. The pro children intervention: Applying the intervention mapping protocol to develop a school-based fruit and vegetable promotion programme. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2005: 49(4): 267-277.
14.
Kok G., Schaalma H., Ruiter RA, van Empelen P., Brug J.Intervention mapping: protocol for applying health psychology theory to prevention programmes. Journal of Health Psychology, 2004: 9(1): 85-98.
15.
Brug J., Oenema A., Ferreira I.Theory, evidence and Intervention Mapping to improve behavior nutrition and physical activity interventions. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2005: 2(1): 2-8.
16.
Bartholomew K., Parcel G., Kok G.Intervention mapping: a process for developing theory- and evidence-based health education programs. Health Education & Behavior, 1998: 25(5): 545-563.
17.
Pelz C., Schmitt A., Meis M.Knowledge Mapping als Methode zur Auswertung und Ergebnispräsentation von Fokusgruppen in der Markt- und Evaluationsforschung. FQS: Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung, 2004: 5(2): 35.
18.
Hassel H., Keimer K.Parent involvement when developing health education programmes. Italian Journal of Public Health, 2008: 5(1): 4-11.
19.
VMP Versand.Fachhandel für Seniorenartikel. VMP Versand Monika Proske. 2008. Online. Available: http://www.vmpversand.de/ (16 October 2008).
