Peer support to encourage adoption and maintenance of a Mediterranean diet
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Strong evidence links consumption of the Mediterranean diet (MD) to a reduced risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and type II diabetes, however, there is uncertainty about whether non-Mediterranean regions will adopt this dietary pattern and how to best measure MD adherence among these populations. To date, interventions that have encouraged individuals to adopt a MD have used intensive dietary change methods that would be expensive and time consuming to roll out. Peer support (PS) is a potential novel and cost effective strategy for achieving dietary change towards a MD. Further research on the effectiveness of PS for encouraging dietary change, however, is needed. Aims: This thesis therefore aimed to assess the feasibility of PS for encouraging adoption and maintenance of a MD in a Northern European population at high CVD risk. Methods: This PhD comprised (i) a systematic review of the effect of PS in encouraging dietary change in adults; (ii) qualitative analysis of barriers to a MD in a Northern European population; (iii) validation of a Mediterranean diet score (MDS) to assess MD adherence in a Northern European population and (iv) development and interim-analysis of a pilot RCT to assess the effectiveness of PS for encouraging MD adoption and maintenance in a Northern European population at high CVD risk (TEAM-MED study). Results: The systematic review (Chapter 2) found that more studies reported a positive effect of PS or mixed results, than studies that did not find an effect of PS for achieving dietary change. However, as evidence was mixed, the effect of PS in encouraging dietary change in adults is not clear and further information is needed. Individuals at high risk of CVD from a Northern European population showed preference towards a group based PS model which was developed for assessment in the TEAM-MED study (Chapter 3). Qualitative research among this population indicated a limited knowledge of, and a number of barriers towards consumin…
abstract: Background: Strong evidence links consumption of the Mediterranean diet (MD) to a reduced risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and type II diabetes, however, there is uncertainty about whether non-Mediterranean regions will adopt this dietary pattern and how to best measure MD adherence among these populations. To date, interventions that have encouraged individuals to adopt a MD have used intensive dietary change methods that would be expensive and time consuming to roll out. Peer support (PS) is a potential novel and cost effective strategy for achieving dietary change towards a MD. Further research on the effectiveness of PS for encouraging dietary change, however, is needed. Aims: This thesis therefore aimed to assess the feasibility of PS for encouraging adoption and maintenance of a MD in a Northern European population at high CVD risk. Methods: This PhD comprised (i) a systematic review of the effect of PS in encouraging dietary change in adults; (ii) qualitative analysis of barriers to a MD in a Northern European population; (iii) validation of a Mediterranean diet score (MDS) to assess MD adherence in a Northern European population and (iv) development and interim-analysis of a pilot RCT to assess the effectiveness of PS for encouraging MD adoption and maintenance in a Northern European population at high CVD risk (TEAM-MED study). Results: The systematic review (Chapter 2) found that more studies reported a positive effect of PS or mixed results, than studies that did not find an effect of PS for achieving dietary change. However, as evidence was mixed, the effect of PS in encouraging dietary change in adults is not clear and further information is needed. Individuals at high risk of CVD from a Northern European population showed preference towards a group based PS model which was developed for assessment in the TEAM-MED study (Chapter 3). Qualitative research among this population indicated a limited knowledge of, and a number of barriers towards consumin…
author: Moore, Sarah Elizabeth
language: eng
date published: 2016-7
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:55:05Z
provider: Queen's University Belfast
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Queen's University Belfast