Feasibility of a Virtual Health and Wellness Center for the Oregon Air National Guard

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey of members was used to examine the feasibility of developing a virtual health and wellness center in the Oregon Air National Guard. The survey asked about the health behaviors members wanted to change and explored their current access to, and potential use of, the Internet to make these changes. Surveys were mailed to 1,368 members, and 521 (38%) were returned. Most respondents (92.5%) had contemplated making one or more health behavior changes in the past year, which included becoming more physically active (94.6%), improving eating habits (86%), losing weight (81%), improving stress management (62%), and reducing tobacco use (46%). Popular sources of health behavior change information used included reading material (95.5%) and the Internet (91.3%). Many respondents had Internet access (82%), and average computer self-efficacy, rated on a scale of 1 to 5, was very high (mean = 4.05, SD = 0.91). Use of the Internet by health professionals to promote health behavior change among Oregon Air National Guard personnel seems feasible and desirable.