Teachable Moment with Single-Concept Cards

Many people, particularly older adults, first become aware of a need for diet and health information at their doctor's office. Many people report they obtain dietary information from their doctor and are unaware that information is available elsewhere.1 Reaching these people with Extension educational materials at the teachable moment is an important aspect to educational success. In an effort to expose their audience to Extension as a source of diet and health educational materials, Oklahoma Home Economics CES developed a tabletop "Health Styles" educational display holding a packet of nine different single- concept cards. Each card contained information on one of these diet and health issues:

• A Variety of Food
• Fat in Your Diet
• Cholesterol in Your Diet
• Sodium in Your Diet
• Fiber in Your Diet
• Sugar in Your Diet
• Calcium in Your Diet
• Weight Control
• Exercise and Your Health

Each card listed other Extension fact sheets available for more information on the topic covered in that single-concept card. Home economists were provided a space to stamp their name and county Extension office address and telephone number on the cards.

To determine the effectiveness of the "Health Styles" displays, an evaluation was conducted on the number of requests received for the fact sheets. Twenty-seven counties in Oklahoma participated in this evaluation. The displays were placed at a variety of locations: 70% at doctors' offices, 20% at county health departments, and the remainder in libraries, hospital waiting rooms, health services departments, dentists and pharmacies, and other places. No differences were observed in information use based on display location.

The county home economists recorded the number of fact sheet requests for one month before and one month after the displays were distributed. A 284% increase in fact sheet requests was observed for the month after the displays were distributed. Only two counties reported a decrease in fact sheet requests.

Home economists also completed a questionnaire evaluating the "Health Styles" displays. They reported 70% of the site personnel were "very favorable" to the displays and 30% "somewhat favorable." Since home economists didn't directly contact consumers, it was difficult to obtain consumer responses to the displays; however, about one-third of the home economists reported consumer responses were very favorable. County home economists felt the displays were worth the effort for 78% of the respondents and not for 22%. When asked if they'd be able to continue making contacts and keeping displays filled, 67% said yes and 33% no.

Several home economists reported that, in addition to fact sheet requests, they'd received other types of public exposure, including telephone questions, individual contacts, and requests for diet and health related programs. Some also indicated they could use other single-concept card series at different locations. Of those identifying this need, 74% felt a parenting series would be useful and 70% felt a series on financial management and children health issues would be beneficial.

This study indicates the "Health Styles" displays were an effective tool for educating a specific segment of the adult population about health and dietary issues. Single-concept card displays can be at locations where people may first become aware of a need for educational materials, as well as introduce them to Extension.

Footnote

1. M. E. Briley and others, "Sources of Nutrition Information for Rural and Urban Elderly Adults," Journal American Dietary Association, (No. 90, 1990), 986.