A Newsletter/Text Message Intervention Promoting Beverage-Related Parenting Practices: Pilot Test Results

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 897-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arwa Zahid ◽  
Marla Reicks
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Reduce Sugar ◽  
Text Message Intervention ◽  
Home Availability

Positive beverage parenting practices may reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption by children and prevent potential health problems. An online newsletter/text message intervention was conducted with parents of children 6 to 12 years to improve beverage parenting practices. Newsletters and text messages were sent weekly over a 4-week period providing gain-framed messages encouraging parenting practices including role modeling and controlling home beverage availability. Pre–post surveys included measures of home availability of beverages and parent beverage intake as an indication of parenting practices. Parents were primarily White, well-educated, and female. About one third lived in rural areas. Results from 100 parents with pre–post data from baseline to 4 weeks showed decreased reported home availability of regular soda pop (p = .008), decreased parent intake of sweetened beverages (p = .004), and decreased parent-reported child intake of regular soft drinks (p = .001), and sweetened juice drink beverages (p < .0001). Most parents (82%) reported reading all three newsletters and indicated that the information provided was relevant (93%). A brief newsletter/text message intervention may be a positive and convenient approach to promote positive beverage parenting practices.

scholarly journals 1527Effect of a text-messaging intervention on oral self-care practices in antenatal women in Delhi, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurav Basu ◽  
Anjali Rajeev ◽  
Suneela Garg ◽  
Mongjam Singh
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Abstract Objective to determine the effect of a mHealth (text-message) intervention compared with a structured health educational session on the oral care and hygiene practices of pregnant women. Methods We conducted a pilot Randomized Control Trial parallel design superiority trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio. A total of 76 pregnant women up-to 20 weeks of gestational age and capable of reading mobile phone text-messages were recruited during August-October’ 2020 from the antenatal clinic of a primary health centre in a low-income urban agglomeration in Delhi, India. The mHealth intervention arm participants were sent a daily text-message for 30 days while all participants were provided a face-face, brief didactic structured educational sessions towards oral health promotion. Results The baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable in terms of age-structure, education, parity, and oral hygiene but differed in terms of oral health problems. Post-intervention, although, the twice-brushing frequency increased in both arms, only the mHealth arm revealed a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of missed twice daily brushing episodes (p = 0.016). The absolute effect size for the primary outcome signifying the difference in the proportion of participants reporting twice daily brushing frequency habit between the mHealth and comparison arms’ was 0.090, the Cohen’s H was 0.182, and the odds of twice brushing habit in the mHealth arm was 1.44 times higher than in the comparison arm. Conclusions a mHealth based daily text-message intervention for one month was not superior to a one-time brief didactic structured educational intervention for oral health promotion in antenatal women. Keywords mHealth; Dental health promotion; Dental health education; Antenatal care

scholarly journals Testing the feasibility and acceptability of a religiously-tailored text messaging intervention to reduce smoking among Somali Muslim men during Ramadan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekah Pratt ◽  
Olamide Ojo-Fati ◽  
Diana DuBois ◽  
Kolawole Okuyemi ◽  
Amanda L Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Text Messaging ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Smoking Reduction ◽  
Muslim Men ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Text Message Intervention ◽  
Text Messaging Intervention

Abstract Introduction The prevalence of smoking among Somali Muslim male immigrants residing in Minnesota is estimated at 44%, however smoking reduction is common during the month of Ramadan. This study evaluated the feasibility and impact of a religiously-tailored text message intervention delivered during Ramadan to encourage smoking reduction among Somali Muslim men who smoke. Methods 50 Somali men were recruited. Participants received two text messages per day starting one week prior to and throughout the month of Ramadan. Approximately half were religiously-tailored and half were about the risks of smoking and benefits of quitting. Smoking behavior was assessed at baseline, and at weeks 4 (end of Ramadan), 8, and 16. Outcomes included feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the text message intervention on smoking reduction and bio-verified abstinence. Results The average age was 41 years. Average time to first cigarette was 1.8 hours at baseline, and 46% of participants smoked menthol cigarettes. Eighteen of 50 participants selected English and 32 selected Somali text messages. Subjects significantly reduced self-reported cigarettes per day (CPD) from 12.4 CPD at baseline to 5.8 CPD at Week 16 (p&lt;0.001). Seven subjects reported quitting at week 16, five completed CO testing, confirming self-reported abstinence. The majority of participants found the cultural and religious references encouraging at the end of the week 16 survey. Conclusions Religiously-tailored text messages to decrease smoking are feasible and acceptable to Somali Muslim men who smoke during Ramadan. This intervention for addressing smoking disparities is worthy of further study. Implications Recruitment of Somali Muslim men who smoke is feasible and supports the idea that further studies targeting smoking during Ramadan are practical. Ramadan presents a window of opportunity upon which to build smoking cessation interventions for smokers who identify as Muslim. These preliminary findings suggest that text messaging is a feasible and acceptable intervention strategy, and that religious tailoring was well received. Such an approach may offer potential for addressing smoking disparities among Somali Muslim male smokers.

Do text messages about health and development in young children affect caregiver behaviour and child outcomes? A systematic review

2020 ◽  
pp. 001789692096599
Author(s):  
Brittany Paige Richardson ◽  
Jeannie van der Linde ◽  
Bhavani Pillay ◽  
De Wet Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Health And Development ◽  
Development Outcomes ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Introduction: Inadequate caregiving conditions interfere with successful health and development outcomes. Access to appropriate information can result in improved health and development outcomes in children. Health promotion text messaging, a primary mHealth strategy, has been implemented in various countries to reach communities where the majority of the population may be living in poverty and lacks access to information and health services. This systematic review investigated what effect the provision of information regarding health and development in young children, using text messages, has on caregiver behaviour and child outcomes. Method: The review was conducted according to the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) guidelines. Studies were retrieved from Scopus, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane library using primary search phrases. The search was not limited to a specific period. Thematic analysis was used to organise and synthesise the information extracted from selected studies into main and sub-themes. Results: In total, 19 studies were identified, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) ( n = 13, 68.42%), observational studies ( n = 3, 15.79%) and non-RCTs ( n = 3, 15.79%). Message content included educational information regarding health and development (89.47%), reminders (36.84%) and caregiver support (52.63%). The majority of studies ( n = 17; 89.47%) found statistically significant positive effects of text message intervention on caregiver behaviour. Text messages also affected child outcomes, with 15.79% ( n = 3) of studies reporting a positive effect. Conclusion: Text messaging is an effective tool to influence caregiver behaviour and child outcomes in health. There is however limited evidence regarding text message intervention effectiveness on child development, both in quality and in quantity. More research, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is necessary.

Implementation of a text message intervention to promote behavioural change and weight loss among overweight and obese Brazilian primary care patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 476-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenn L Gusmão ◽  
Antonio L Ribeiro ◽  
Maíra Viana Rego Souza-Silva ◽  
Paulo R Gomes ◽  
Alline M Beleigoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Message Delivery ◽  
Belo Horizonte ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Introduction Mobile-technology-based interventions are promising strategies for promoting behavioural change in obese patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a text message intervention, and to assess the effects of the intervention on body mass index (BMI) and self-reported behavioural change. Methods TELEFIT was a three-phase feasibility study comprising the following stages: (a) the development of text messages; (b) testing; and (c) a quasi-experimental pilot study in which patients who were engaged in obesity/overweight educational groups in public primary care centres in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, were recruited. A bank of text messages was drafted and reviewed by an expert panel, text message delivery software was developed and tested, and a pilot study assessed patients before and after receiving the intervention using validated questionnaires and body measures. The data were analysed using the Wilcoxon test. Results A total of 46 patients completed the follow-up; 93.5% were women and the median age was 42 years (interquartile range (IQR) 34–52 years). At four months, participants had a significant reduction in BMI (median 31.3 (IQR 28.2–34.6) vs. 29.9 (IQR 27.2–34.6) kg/m2, p < 0.001), systolic (median 125 (IQR 120–132) vs. 120 (IQR 110–130) mmHg, p = 0.013) and diastolic blood pressure (median 80 (IQR 70–100) vs. 80 (IQR 70–80) mmHg, p = 0.006), when compared to baseline. All patients reported to be satisfied and willing to continue receiving the intervention, and 93.3% felt that the intervention helped them change their behaviours. Discussion This study has shown that a text message intervention to promote behavioural change and weight loss was feasible and effective in a short-term period. Participants were satisfied and willing to continue receiving the SMS messages.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Healthy Living after Cancer Text Message-Delivered, Extended Contact Intervention using the RE-AIM Framework

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Job ◽  
Elizabeth G. Eakin ◽  
Marina M. Reeves ◽  
Brianna S Fjeldsoe
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Healthy Living ◽  
Intervention Cost ◽  
Adult Cancer Survivors ◽  
Extended Contact ◽  
After Cancer ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Abstract Background: Text message-delivered interventions have potential to prevent weight regain and maintain diet and physical activity behaviours through extending contact with participants following initial weight loss, lifestyle interventions. This study evaluated the adoption, reach, implementation, effectiveness and maintenance of an extended contact text-message intervention following the Healthy Living after Cancer (HLaC) program. HLaC was a 6-month, telephone-delivered intervention targeting healthy diet, physical activity and weight loss for adult cancer survivors, offered by Cancer Councils (CCs) in Australia. Methods: HLaC completers (n=182) were offered extended contact via text messages for 6-months (HLaC+Txt). Text message content/frequency was individually tailored to participant’s preferences, ascertained through two telephone-tailoring interviews with CC staff. Adoption (HLaC+Txt uptake among eligible CCs), reach (uptake by HLaC completers) and implementation (intervention cost/length; text dose) were assessed. The effectiveness of extended contact relative to historic controls was quantified by pre-to-post HLaC+Txt changes in self-reported: weight, moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable intake, fat and fibre behaviour. Maintenance, following 6-months of noncontact for the intervention cohort, was assessed for these same variables. Semi-structured interviews with CC staff and participants contextualised outcomes. Results: HLaC+Txt was adopted by all four CCs who had delivered HLaC. In total, 115 participants commenced HLaC+Txt, with reach ranging across CCs from 47–80% of eligible participants. The mean number of weeks participants received the text message intervention ranged across CCs from 18.5 – 22.2 weeks. Participants received (median, 25th,75th percentile) 83 (48, 119) texts, ranging across CCs from 40 to 112. The total cost of HLaC+Txt delivery was on average $AUD85.00/participant. No meaningful (p<0.05) differences in self-reported outcomes were seen between HLaC+Txt and control cohorts. After 6-months no contact the intervention cohort had maintained weight, fruit intake, fat and fibre index scores relative to end of HLaC+Txt outcomes. Participants and CC staff perceived an important intervention component was maintaining accountability. Conclusions: While feasible to implement, HLaC+Txt was not effective in the short term. However, intervention effects during the first 6-months of non-contact suggest the program supports longer term maintenance of weight and diet behaviour. Intervention delivery in this real-world context highlighted key considerations for future implementation.Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) - ACTRN12615000882527 (registered on 24/08/2015)

scholarly journals Warning Labels Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake among College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-185
Author(s):  
Cindy W Leung ◽  
Julia A Wolfson ◽  
Robert Hsu ◽  
Keith Soster ◽  
Steve Mangan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Warning Label ◽  
Warning Labels ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Reduce Sugar ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Quasi Experimental

ABSTRACT Background Health-related warning labels may reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), but the effectiveness of such labels in real-world settings is not well established. Objectives We investigated the influence of warning labels on SSB intake among college students at a large public Midwestern university. Methods We conducted a quasi-experimental intervention study among 840 undergraduate students recruited from 3 dining halls on 1 university campus. One dining hall was selected as the intervention (I) site, whereas the other dining halls served as control (C) sites. In January 2019, warning labels were posted on SSB dispensers at the I site. All students reported their beverage intake using a modified beverage frequency questionnaire 2 mo before and 2 mo after the warning label implementation. Generalized linear models examined the influence of the warning labels on SSB consumption at the I site compared with the C sites, adjusting for students’ sociodemographic characteristics. Results In the sample, 68% were aged 17–18 y old at baseline, and 51% identified as female. From baseline to follow-up, there was a 19% decrease in SSB intake at the I site, compared with a 5% decrease at the C sites (P = 0.049 comparing I with C). This difference was driven by significant decreases in the intakes of fruit-flavored drinks, sweetened teas, and flavored milk at the I site compared with the C sites. Although not an SSB, 100% fruit juce consumption decreased 21% at the I site, compared with a 1% increase at the C sites (P = 0.01 comparing I with C). No significant differences were observed in the intakes of soda, energy drinks, sweetened coffees, and nonsugary drinks at the I site compared with the C sites. Conclusions Warning labels were effective in reducing SSB intake among college students, particularly for fruit-flavored drinks, sweetened teas, and flavored milk. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04435145.

scholarly journals Text message intervention to reduce frequency of binge drinking among disadvantaged men: the TRAM RCT

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain K Crombie ◽  
Linda Irvine ◽  
Brian Williams ◽  
Falko F Sniehotta ◽  
Dennis J Petrie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Background Socially disadvantaged men are more likely to binge drink frequently and to experience high levels of alcohol-related harm. Objectives To test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a text message intervention in reducing the frequency of binge drinking among disadvantaged men. Study design A four-centre, parallel-group, pragmatic, individually randomised controlled trial was conducted. Randomisation was carried out using a secure remote web-based system. It was stratified by participating centre and recruitment method and restricted using block sizes of randomly varying lengths. Setting The study was conducted in the community. Members of the public helped to develop the study methods. Participants Participants were men aged 25–44 years who had ≥ 2 episodes of binge drinking (> 8 units of alcohol in a single session) in the preceding 28 days. Men were recruited from areas of high deprivation. Interventions An empirically and theoretically based text message intervention was delivered by 112 interactive text messages over a 12-week period. The control group received an attentional control comprising 89 text messages on general health. Primary outcome measure The primary outcome measure was the proportion of men consuming > 8 units of alcohol on ≥ 3 occasions (in the previous 28 days) at 12 months post intervention. Results The recruitment target of 798 was exceeded and 825 men were randomised. Retention was high and similar in the intervention (84.9%) and control (86.5%) groups. Most men in the intervention group engaged enthusiastically with the text messages: almost all (92%) replied to text messages and over two-thirds (67%) replied more than 10 times. The intervention was estimated to have had a modest, statistically non-significant effect on the primary outcome at the 12-month follow-up [odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57 to 1.08]. This corresponds to a net reduction of 5.7% in regular binge drinking. Five secondary outcomes showed small non-significant and inconsistent effects on alcohol consumption, with one suggesting a positive effect and four suggesting an adverse effect. Both the short- and the long-term cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) analysis suggested that the brief intervention was dominated by a ‘do-nothing’ option. The intervention’s impacts on patterns of alcohol consumption, QALYs and downstream costs were inconsistent and uncertain. Limitations The study used an active control that, combined with the recruitment procedures and baseline assessments, could have biased the treatment effect towards the null. The measurement of alcohol consumption relied on self-reported drinking. Conclusions The trial has demonstrated that it is possible to recruit and retain large numbers of socially disadvantaged men in a research study. The text messages delivered a complex theoretically and empirically based intervention that fostered enthusiastic engagement with the key components of the behaviour change sequence. The intervention produced a modest, statistically non-significant effect on the primary outcome, with wide CIs. Further research is needed to reduce uncertainty about the treatment effect. The methods developed for this study provide a platform for the design and testing of interventions to reduce inequalities in health. Future work A future trial could reduce the uncertainty around the treatment effect of the intervention. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN07695192. Funding This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 6, No. 6. See NIHR Journals Library website for further information.

Abstract P386: Design of a Tailored Text-message Intervention for Weight Loss

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Kolodziejczyk ◽  
Anglica Barrera ◽  
Kevin Patrick ◽  
Lindsay Dillon ◽  
Simon Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Text Message ◽  
User Preferences ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Introduction: Tailoring information is a commonly used health communication technique to individualize behavior change programs. However, few studies have applied individualized tailoring to a text-message intervention. Using tailoring with text-messages may be a powerful behavior change tool as this technology is inexpensive, asynchronous, and is ubiquitous across socio-economic segments. We developed a tailored, “push/pull,” text-message intervention for overweight/obese English and Spanish-speaking participants that targets weight management behaviors. The development of the theory-driven logic rules for individualized text-messages is described. Methods: A robust web-based participant intake system was developed to gather and store the data needed to individualize the messages by personalization, feedback, and content matching. Feedback and content matching was based on both a baseline weight management behavior survey and continual text message-based assessments related to individual behaviors and perceived barriers. The system is designed so that participants who show rapid and sustained progress can advance through the content, while those having difficulties can receive additional tips and suggestions. Participants will be scheduled to receive 3-4 interactive messages per day from our library of over 6,000 text messages. We categorized the messages into five groups: 1) Subject matter: Content related to nutrition and physical activity behaviors; 2) Behavioral core strategies based on Self-Regulation Theory (e.g. self-monitoring, goal setting); 3) Message type (e.g. reminder, feedback); 4) Personalization (e.g. favorite restaurants, friends’ names); and 5) Location related messages. We also developed a “like/ don’t like” feature so that the system can continuously learn user preferences for message types and adjust the type of future messages sent accordingly. Conclusion: A large-scale randomized controlled trial is underway to evaluate the efficacy of this text-message intervention. While this intervention is aimed at weight loss, our tailoring technique will likely apply to other health behaviors as well.

scholarly journals Text Message Responsivity in a 2-Way Short Message Service Pilot Intervention With Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Cancer (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra M Psihogios ◽  
Yimei Li ◽  
Eliana Butler ◽  
Jessica Hamilton ◽  
Lauren C Daniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Text Messaging ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Message Service ◽  
Young Adult Survivors ◽  
Pilot Intervention ◽  
Text Message Intervention

OBJECTIVE Within a 2-way text messaging study in AYAs who recently completed treatment for cancer, we sought to evaluate text message responsivity across different types of text messages. METHODS AYAs who recently completed treatment for cancer (n=26; mean age=16 years; 62% female, 16/26 participants) received 2-way text messages about survivorship health topics over a 16-week period. Using participants’ text message log data, we coded responsivity to text messages and evaluated trends in responsivity to unprompted text messages and prompted text messages of varying content (eg, medication reminders, appointment reminders, and texts about personal experiences as a cancer survivor). RESULTS Across prompted and unprompted text messages, responsivity rapidly decreased (P ≤.001 and =.01, respectively) and plateaued by the third week of the intervention. However, participants were more responsive to prompted text messages (mean responsivity=46% by week 16) than unprompted messages (mean responsivity=10% by week 16). They also demonstrated stable responsivity to certain prompted content: medication reminders, appointment reminders, goal motivation, goal progress, and patient experience texts. CONCLUSIONS Our methodology of evaluating text message responsivity revealed important patterns of engagement in a 2-way text message intervention for AYA cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Health- or Environment-Focused Text Messages as a Potential Strategy to Increase Plant-Based Eating among Young Adults: An Exploratory Study

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3147
Author(s):  
Tze Joo Lim ◽  
Richard Nii Okine ◽  
Jonathan C. Kershaw
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Plant Protein ◽  
Explanatory Role ◽  
Potential Strategy ◽  
Text Message Intervention

Previous plant-based diet (PBD) adoption strategies have primarily focused on health rather than environmental rationale and meat reduction rather than plant-based protein promotion. In this study, we explored the effect of a theory-informed text-message intervention on dietary intentions and behaviors in young adult omnivores and the potential explanatory role of PBD beliefs, subjective norm, self-efficacy, moral norm, and health and environmental values. Participants completed baseline questionnaires and reported dietary intake before being randomly assigned to receive 2–3 health- or environment-focused text messages per week for eight weeks and then repeated baseline assessments. Although we did not see significant changes in meat or plant protein intake, we did observe a marked decrease in intentions to consume animal protein and a marginal increase in fruit and vegetable consumption intention. We identified subjective norms, self-efficacy, and moral satisfaction as the strongest predictors of changes in intention to consume animal or plant protein. Although few group differences were observed, those receiving environment-focused text messages experienced a greater change in values and were more likely to increase vegetable intake. Messages that improve sustainability awareness and provide practical adoption strategies may be part of an effective strategy to influence PBD intake among young adults.

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