Evaluation of a nutrition newsletter by older adults

Newsletters are an increasingly popular way of providing nutrition information. However, there has been little evaluation of their effectiveness as a communication vehicle. This study was conducted to evaluate older adults' opinions about a nutrition newsletter designed specifically for them and to determine relationships between characteristics ot older adults and their opinions. A nationwide sample of men and women aged 55 years and older was asked to answer an initial telephone survey with demographic, health, and nutrition-related questions. They were then asked to receive an issue of a nutrition newsletter written specifically for older adults. If they agreed, they were sent the newsletter, followed by a telephone call that included questions about their opinion of the newsletter relative to its appearance and content, as well as their interest in future nutrition newsletters. One hundred and seventy-two subjects completed all phases of the study. All three newsletter evaluation variables - appearance, interest in content, and interest in future issues - were rated positively by participants. The appearance of the newsletter received the most positive response. The best-fit models accounted for a relatively small percentage of the variation in appearance and content scores. A larger percentage of the variation in interest in future newsletters could be explained by the multivariate model, which found that women and those who were more interested in nutrition and reading were more likely to be interested in future newsletters. The results of this study suggest that a newsletter designed specifically for older adults is an effective way to gain the attention of its intended audience.