JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Social media and gamification have been used in digital interventions for improving nutrition behaviors of young adults, but few studies measure engagement.

Objective:

This feasibility study explored user engagement with a four-week smart-phone program for improving vegetable intakes.

Methods:

A goal setting and self-monitoring app was developed for feasibility testing. We assessed if additional components of gaming and/or social media support increased engagement. A 2 × 2 factorial study design was used with participants randomly allocated to each group (n=97). Engagement with the app (usage) was captured via inbuilt software which recorded total days of app usage (duration), and the frequency of logging vegetable intake. Uptake of the social media (Facebook) content was measured by tracking views, likes and comments on posts.

Results:

Forty-nine percent of participants were retained at four weeks. Attrition within the first week, was highest among users of the gamified app without Facebook (p<0.001). Over the intervention period, 64% (62/97) of participants logged into their app, with vegetable intake recorded on average for 11 out of 28 days. The frequency of recording decreased each week (mean (SD) 4(2) days in week one versus 2(2) days in week four). No effects of gaming or social support on the frequency of recording vegetables or the duration of app engagement were found. However, regardless of app type, the duration of app engagement was significantly associated with vegetable intake post-intervention (p<0.001). Sixty percent of Facebook posts were viewed by participants but engagement was limited to likes, with no comments or peer-to-peer interaction observed.

Conclusions:

As duration of usage was associated with vegetable intake a deeper understanding of factors influencing engagement are needed. Dimensions such as personal attributes and the setting and context require further exploration in addition to content and delivery.