JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Insufficient adherence to dietary guidelines highlights the need for interventions promoting healthy eating that include dairy consumption among Canadian families. Research suggests that web-based interventions rooted in user research and theories effectively promote behavior change. However, few theory-driven web interventions target dairy product consumption in families.

Objective:

This study aims to describe the development process of a web-based nutrition intervention named “Dairyathlon,” which promotes dairy product consumption among families, using the IDEAS (Ideate, Design, Assess, and Share) framework. Additionally, it seeks to evaluate its user appreciation.

Methods:

Following the IDEAS framework, family insights and beliefs about dairy consumption were gathered through ethnographic study and interviews. Behavior change techniques based on the Theory of Planned Behavior were developed to enhance attitudes and perceived behavioral control toward dairy consumption. These techniques underwent a design process, including prototype testing and adjustments. User experience was assessed using the AttrakDiff questionnaire, comparing families using the Dairyathlon platform to a reference platform (families using the Canadian Food Guide (CFG)). Children and parents completed the questionnaire after a visual presentation of the platform and following eight weeks of use. The AttrakDiff measures pragmatic (PQ), hedonic stimulation (HSQ), hedonic identity (HIQ), and attractiveness (ATT) dimensions, with scores ranging from -3 to +3 (>1 optimal, 0-1 acceptable, <0 suboptimal).

Results:

Between April 2019 and August 2020, the Dairyathlon web-based intervention was developed to enhance families’ attitudes and perceived control toward dairy consumption, following the IDEAS framework. User experience assessments were conducted among 29 families, showing a significantly higher than the reference platform, (i.e. the CFG) at both PRE and POST (P <.001). Both platforms were rated optimal at first sight but significantly decreased after its use: PRE (1.73 ± 0.61) to POST (1.40 ± 0.78) in the Dairyathlon group, with a mean difference of 0.43 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.70, P =.002), and 1.39 ± 0.62 to 0.98 ± 0.64 in the CFG group (mean difference = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.59, P <.0001). After using Dairyathlon, children (n=45) rated PQ (1.4 ± 1.0), HSQ (1.6 ± 1.0), HIQ (1.4 ± 1.1), and ATT (1.7 ± 0.9) as optimal. Parents (n=50) rated all dimensions as optimal, except for stimulation quality (PQ: 1.2 ± 1.0; HSQ: 0.9 ± 0.8; HIQ: 1.4 ± 0.8; ATT: 1.6 ± 0.8).

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates the usefulness of the IDEAS framework in developing a web-based intervention to promote dairy consumption. The platform's user experience was rated as optimal, though the stimulation dimension requires improvement for adults. Future research will assess Dairyathlon’s impact on dairy consumption, diet quality, and family health. Clinical Trial: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05417347