Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Nov 9, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 9, 2023 - Jan 4, 2024
Date Accepted: Jan 11, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Family-based WhatsApp intervention to promote healthy eating behaviors among Amazonian school children: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Stunting and micronutrient deficiencies have persistently affected children in the Brazilian Amazon for decades. However, in recent years, a notable increase in childhood overweight prevalence has been observed, particularly in the context of heightened food insecurity exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the limited number of effective solutions proposed to tackle this problem, digital interventions have shown great promise worldwide in preventing obesity and promoting healthy diets.
Objective:
This study aims to describe the protocol of a family-based WhatsApp intervention, specifically designed to investigate the efficacy of multimedia messaging in preventing excessive weight gain and improving healthy eating practices among school-age children in the Amazon region.
Methods:
This study protocol outlines a theory-driven randomized controlled trial based on the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning and the Social Cognitive Theory. A total of 240 parents or caregivers of children enrolled in the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA-Brazil) birth cohort study will be recruited by phone and social medias. Intervention group will receive persuasive multimedia messages via WhatsApp over a 19-week period, while the wait-list control group will keep in the usual care. Primary outcome is change in children’s body mass index in z-score (BMIz). Secondary outcomes are changes in dietary intake and biochemical indicators of the children. All outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and five months after randomization, in comparison to usual care.
Results:
Data collection started in June 2023 and final measurements are scheduled to be completed in December 2023. The results of the main analysis are expected to be available in 2024.
Conclusions:
This innovative multimedia message intervention holds significant potential for fostering behavioral changes among Amazonian children. Clinical Trial: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (RBR-5zdnw6t)
Citation
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