Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies
12-2008
Evaluation of an Interactive Health Communication Trans Fat Website
Tara Banks Utah State University
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Recommended Citation Banks, Tara, "Evaluation of an Interactive Health Communication Trans Fat Website" (2008). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 160. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/160
This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EVALUATION OF AN INTERACTIVE HEALTH COMMUNICATION TRANS FAT WEBSITE by Tara Banks A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Health, Physical Education and Recreation Approved: ______ ______ Phillip Waite, Ph.D. Julie Gast, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member ______ ______ Mary Doty, Ph.D. Byron R. Burnham, Ed.D. Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2008 ii COPYRIGHT © TARA BANKS 2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED iii ABSTRACT Evaluation of an Interactive Health Communication Trans Fat Website by Tara Banks, Master of Science Utah State University, 2008 Major Professor: Dr. Phillip J. Waite Department: Health, Physical Education and Recreation In order to evaluate the short term educational and behavioral impact of the
American Heart Association’s “Face the Fats” web application had upon college students,
a study involving 116 Utah State University undergraduate students was conducted. A
one group pre posttest design was utilized to answer eight research questions focusing
on: health risks associated with trans fat, general trans fat knowledge, ability to identify
foods containing trans and saturated fats, food label information, healthy alternatives to
trans fat, and readiness to change trans fat intake. Participants completed an online pretest survey and then viewed the “Face the Fats” website at their own pace. After
viewing the website, participants completed an online posttest survey. Data were
analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Statistical analysis of a paired sample t test revealed that
“Face the Fats” was successful in changing the general trans fat knowledge of participants ( p = <