Promote patient behavior change through food choices and self-monitoring

Rutgers researchers say teaching patients to observe and record how they feel after eating certain foods is a very effective way to
encourage positive lifestyle changes.

To measure the effectiveness of behavior change programs on patient health, students at Rutgers University's Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy partnered with Eat for Health, an organization in New Jersey that promotes healthy eating, to conduct a 10-day Healthy Eating Challenge
.

"Working with the Eat for Health team has not only influenced my personal perspective on food and lifestyle, but has also changed my view of pharmacy, showing me the multidimensional role we play in healthcare," said
Marta Galagoza, a Rutgers pharmacy doctoral student and co-investigator on the project.

The study was conducted by 58 Rutgers health care professionals, staff, and students from a variety of health care fields, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, social work, nutrition, and pharmacy
.
The researchers showed participants how to make healthy breakfast recipes and asked them to observe, record, and reflect on how they felt
after eating.

Dubbed "How You Feel is Data?," these observations are the backbone of the Eat for Health educational approach and represent how food affects the connection between the body and the brain, an important step
toward healthier living.

In addition to catering guidance, participants were provided with nutritional resources, encouragement and a platform
to communicate with each other.

After the 10-day challenge, 37 participants completed a survey detailing their experiences and whether their eating habits had changed
as a result.

• 86% of participants said they were confident they would change their eating habits
  in the future.
  

• 84% said they would eat a greater variety of foods, and 46% said they would eat more fiber
  .
  

• 62% said they planned to prepare larger batches of food the night before to improve their eating habits
  .
  

Normally, health care providers have limited time to communicate lifestyle choices and health habits with patients, but Mary Wagner, associate professor of pharmacy at Rutgers and lead teacher for the study, saw an opportunity for
change.
"Pharmacists can provide health guidance to patients in their practice, but to help patients reverse harmful habits, they first need to figure out what motivates people to change," Wagner said
.
"Implementing specific tools, such as the How Your Feel is Data? method, allows healthcare providers to help patients develop mindful eating habits and other positive lifestyle changes
.
"

"While changing behavior may be difficult, this study shows that observation, documentation and self-discovery can support this process and improve the long-term health of patients," said
Marion Reinson, executive director of Eat for Health.
"Trying foods and recipes, listening to and understanding your body's responses, is the first self-directed, effective, and positive step to helping you find a sustainable, stable, and right way to
eat.
"

Wagner and her students are continuing to work with Eat for Health to develop evidence-based curricula for Rutgers and other community organizations, such as diabetes and bone health
.

The results will be presented
at the annual meeting of the New Jersey Pharmacists Association in Princeton, New Jersey, on Saturday, Oct.
22.