A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Feasibility Study of a WhatsApp-Delivered Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating Habits in Male Firefighters

NG, Winnie WM; Wong, Antony King Fung; Cheung, Kin

doi:10.3390/ijerph18126633

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…This study used social media to overcome the constraints of time and place, and developed an intervention program to reach more truck drivers. Past studies have indicated the use of social media can facilitate access to groups that are not easily accessible, such as patients with AIDS and firefighters [52,53], which was verified by this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Quasi-experimental design for using an interactive social media intervention program to improve truck drivers’ health beliefs and eating behaviors

Chang

et al. 2022

BMC Public Health

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Background Truck drivers have difficulties participating in health education programs delivered at a fixed time and place due to the mobility of their workplace. Interventions conducted via social media can overcome these limitations of time and place. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a nutrition education intervention program delivered via a social media platform on the healthy eating behaviors of truck drivers. Methods This study adopted a quasi-experimental design. A 12-week intervention program was conducted for a social-media group (n = 125) and a conventional-teaching group (n = 117) from February to May 2020. The social-media group participated in a social-media-based health intervention on the LINE application. The intervention involved the provision of online messages, online instant responses, a picture-based food log, an audio e-book, and a loyalty e-card. The conventional-teaching group participated in a healthy diet course and a hygiene education manual. The generalized estimation equation (GEE) was applied to evaluate the intervention effects on the outcome measures derived from the Health Belief Model. Results The results of the GEE showed the social-media-based intervention strategies significantly decreased perceived barriers of consuming a healthy diet (p = < 0.001), increased willingness to follow cues of action (p = 0.036), improved the self-efficacy of healthy eating behaviors (p = 0.001), and increased the score of healthy eating behaviors (p < 0.001) compared with the conventional teaching strategies. For the social-media and conventional-teaching groups, no significant changes occurred in self-perceived health status, self-perceived susceptibility, or self-perceived severity after the intervention. More than 90% of the participants in the social-media group believed the social-media-based intervention strategies could help implement and maintain healthy eating behaviors. Conclusions The results indicate social-media-based intervention strategies can facilitate approaching a population without a fixed workplace, such as truck drivers. Health promoters and planners focusing on occupational health can consider developing social-media-based intervention strategies for improving truck drivers' health status.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Quasi-experimental design for using an interactive social media intervention program to improve truck drivers’ health beliefs and eating behaviors

Chang

et al. 2022

BMC Public Health

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“…Instead of using a traditional short message service, text messages can now be delivered in the form of voice, images, and videos via general smartphone communication apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. The advanced features of text messaging may enhance adherence behaviors, resulting in an improvement in BP control [ 51 , 52 ]. Hence, future studies should examine the effect of informative images and videos on HTN management, including BP regulation, medication adherence, and adherence to lifestyle modifications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Text Messaging Interventions on Blood Pressure Control Among Patients With Hypertension: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Tam¹,

Wong²,

Cheung³

et al. 2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Controlling blood pressure (BP) is an international health concern, and high BP is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease mortality. Evidence has shown that educational interventions directed at patients potentially improve BP control and adherence to medications and lifestyle modifications. In addition, a text messaging intervention has a potential effect on BP control; however, the dosage of a text messaging intervention has not been determined in previous reviews, resulting in difficult application in practice. Objective This review aimed to identify the effectiveness of a text messaging intervention on hypertension management with a specific focus on the dosage of text messaging and the type of additional interventions with text messaging. Methods A systematic review was conducted and reported on in accordance with PRISMA guideline. Participants were aged 18 years and older and diagnosed with primary hypertension. The included studies used text messaging as a component of the intervention. We searched for randomized controlled trials published until June 30, 2020, from the following health-related electronic databases: Embase, Medline, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Data were extracted for qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of each study, and the quality of the included studies was assessed independently by two authors. Results Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall methodological quality was fair (mean score 5.75). The frequency of text message delivery varied from daily to biweekly. Health education was identified in 4 studies as an additional intervention with text messaging. The overall results showed that the text messaging intervention significantly reduced systolic BP (SBP) but not diastolic BP (DBP). There was no significant difference in BP reduction between studies that lasted 6 months or less and those that lasted more than 7 months. Seven studies that lasted 6 months or less involving 1428 patients with hypertension were pooled for further meta-analysis. Text messages delivered at a lower frequency (once per week or less) had a small effect on SBP reduction (effect size 0.35, P<.01) and DBP reduction (effect size 0.28, P=.01). In addition, the use of a text messaging intervention halved the odds of uncontrolled BP among patients with hypertension in 6 months (odds ratio 0.46, P=.02). Conclusions This review found that a text messaging intervention was effective in BP control. One-way text messaging delivered in a weekly manner was suggested to be effective and required fewer resources. Future studies should use different forms of text message and be integrated into other interventions to improve adherence behaviors and BP control among patients with hypertension.

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“…In addition to dietary training and education sessions, promotional pamphlets and messaging through social media apps have been used to encourage healthy eating habits of fruits and vegetables. Ng et al [ 44 ] conducted an eight-week cluster randomized controlled trial in which they investigated the effects of using WhatsApp, a communication app, to promote healthy eating. The control group received a health promotion pamphlet, and the intervention group received the pamphlet as well as additional educational material through WhatsApp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The control group received a health promotion pamphlet, and the intervention group received the pamphlet as well as additional educational material through WhatsApp. The content of the material that Ng et al [ 44 ] developed focused on the first four stages of the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavioral change readiness (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action) to explain the reasoning behind healthy eating habits, state the benefits of incorporating more fruits and vegetables into daily diets, provide various cooking methods for vegetables, and include practical advice for eating enough fruits and vegetables when dining out and eating during special occasions. These materials were sent to the intervention group in intervals of one to two weeks.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Behavior and Diet Interventions among Structural Firefighters: A Narrative Review

et al. 2022

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Structural firefighters (SFFs) are exposed to multiple occupational hazards that affect dietary behavior and can contribute to increased risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease compared to the United States’ general population. Dietary behavior is a feasible modification for positive health outcomes. The objectives of this narrative review are to summarize the diet behavior of SFFs, review findings of diet interventions that positively modify diet behavior, identify research gaps, and suggest recommendations for addressing those gaps. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and CABI Web of Science were searched between February 2020 and June 2022 for peer-reviewed articles. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) study population must include SFFs; (2) investigate diet or diet intervention among SFFs; (3) report results specific to SFFs; and (4) be published in the English language. Thirty-four studies were included. Results indicate that SFFs recognize the importance of a healthy dietary pattern, but do not follow one, and that food choices are often influenced by colleagues. Diet interventions, such as the Mediterranean diet, were observed to have positive health improvements, such as improved lipid levels and lower CVD risk. Team counseling was found to be more effective for adopting healthier diets compared to one-on-one counseling; and general counseling was more effective than no counseling. A gap identified by this review is the lack of information concerning differences in dietary intake, diet quality, and dietary behaviors while on- and off-shift, and throughout the career. Diet is an important risk factor for occupational disease development; therefore, effective, consistent dietary interventions are necessary.

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A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Feasibility Study of a WhatsApp-Delivered Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating Habits in Male Firefighters

Cited by 7 publications

References 56 publications

Quasi-experimental design for using an interactive social media intervention program to improve truck drivers’ health beliefs and eating behaviors

Quasi-experimental design for using an interactive social media intervention program to improve truck drivers’ health beliefs and eating behaviors

Effectiveness of Text Messaging Interventions on Blood Pressure Control Among Patients With Hypertension: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Dietary Behavior and Diet Interventions among Structural Firefighters: A Narrative Review

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