Publication year
2018
Citation Title
"Just say it like it is!" Use of a community-based participatory approach to develop a technology-driven food literacy program for adolescents.
Journal Name
International Quarterly of Community Health Education
Journal Volume
38
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
83-97
DOI
10.1177/0272684X17749572
Summary
Helping adolescents improve their nutritional knowledge and behaviors and physical activity is an important part of improving their health. This study describes the process and results of utilizing community-based participatory research to adapt a nutrition and health intervention for teenagers to include components of technology. An advisory Kid Council provided feedback on the researchers' planned intervention adaptations, and a pilot study demonstrated how the adaptation was received by participants. Most components were well-received though limited participation may have reduced impact.
Key Findings
Significant changes were made to the content and delivery of the FuelUp&Go! intervention based on feedback from adolescent participants in the advisory Kid Council, including the use of emojis in text messages and simple, direct statements.
Kid Council and pilot study participants scored low (three out of nine possible points) on nutrition knowledge, and minimal gains were seen post-intervention.
Most program components were well-liked to moderately-liked; participants rated most highly the website, weekly food/health tips, and the weekly topics of advertising and sugar-added beverages.
Implications for Military Professionals
Support adolescents in utilizing in-person and technology-based nutrition and activity programs to improve health
Examine ways nutrition and activity programs can be incorporated into after-school programming in order to be successful
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide basic nutrition and physical activity information for adolescents such as exchanging drinking water for sugar-sweetened beverages
Develop activities to help adolescents learn to set realistic goals for how they might increase their physical activity
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support the development of technology-based or technology-enhanced nutrition and physical activity interventions for adolescents
Encourage collaboration between positive youth development programs and nutrition professionals to develop adolescent-approved programming
Methods
FuelUp&Go! was adapted from a previously tested intervention and delivered in six in-person sessions; participants also utilized a fitness tracker, had access to a resource website, and received text messages.
The Kid Council met twice with an adult facilitator and gave feedback on the use of text messages, music, incentives, activities, recipes, and surveys in FuelUp&Go! prior to the study; these sessions were audio recorded.
Pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered in the pilot study, including a knowledge, attitude, and behavior survey, a food consumption survey, and a program evaluation.
Data were analyzed by comparing the pre- and post-intervention surveys.
Participants
Adolescent participants were recruited from a local YMCA in Springfield, MA.
Kid Council participants included three males and one female, ages 13-16 years old. One participant was Latino, two were Black, and one was multiracial.
Pilot study participants included three males and six females, ages 11-16 years old. No other demographic information was provided.
While 21 participants were recruited for the pilot study, only nine completed all necessary steps, including parental consent and pre- and post-intervention surveys.
Limitations
The Kid Council included four adolescents and the pilot study included nine, leading to minimal ability to generalize conclusions.
Without comparison to a control group, it is hard to know whether the intervention provided any impact.
Few participants utilized the fitness trackers and interactive text messaging, and there was inconsistent attendance at the in-person sessions, so it is unclear whether there was enough participation to demonstrate impact.
Some participants' answer patterns on the surveys were of questionable validity, such as providing the same response for an entire list of questions.
Avenues for Future Research
Utilize a larger sample to better demonstrate impact of the intervention
Demonstrate causal impact by using a control group or comparable intervention and randomizing structure
Restructure survey administration to reduce test fatigue and improve validity of results
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
FuelUp&Go! is a technology-driven food literacy program consisting of six in-person skill building sessions as well as fitness trackers, text messages, and a companion website. A community-based participatory research approach was used with adolescents who were recruited to participate in a Kid Council. Qualitative data were collected about the use of surveys, program activities, recipes, technology and text messages, and music and incentives. Changes suggested by Kid Councilmembers informed the design and development of a pilot program. Participants were recruited for the pilot program and completed pre- and postintervention surveys. The results indicated food-related knowledge remained low but increased from baseline to follow-up. Attitudes toward vegetables and physical activity increased slightly. Self-reported participation in physical activity and consumption of sugar-added beverages moved in positive directions. These findings suggest that community-based participatory research approach is an effective approach to engage adolescents in the development of a technology-driven food literacy program.
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