scholarly journals A Smartphone App to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Young Adults in Australian Remote Indigenous Communities: Design, Formative Evaluation and User-Testing (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Tonkin ◽  
Lauren Jeffs ◽  
Thomas Philip Wycherley ◽  
Carol Maher ◽  
Ross Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
End User ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
App Development ◽  
Reduce Sugar

BACKGROUND The disproportionate burden of noncommunicable disease among Indigenous Australians living in remote Indigenous communities (RICs) is a complex and persistent problem. Smartphones are increasingly being used by young Indigenous adults and therefore represent a promising method to engage them in programs seeking to improve nutritional intake. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to consult RIC members to inform the content of a smartphone app that can be used to monitor and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake in RICs. METHODS The study was conducted in two phases. The formative phase involved a simulated grocery selection activity with think aloud (“think aloud shop”), a semistructured interview, a questionnaire outlining current smartphone and app use, and a paper prototyping activity. A preliminary end-user testing phase involved a think aloud prototype test and a semistructured interview regarding user satisfaction. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 20 18- to 35-year-old smartphone users for each phase from two RICs in the Northern Territory, Australia. Thematic analysis of transcribed audio recordings was used to identify determinants of food choice from the think aloud shop; themes related to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) from the eating behaviors interview; and usability, comprehension, and satisfaction with the app from the preliminary end-user testing. RESULTS Smartphone use in RICs is currently different to that found in urban environments; in particular, extremely low use of Facebook, restricted variety of phone types, and limited Internet access. Findings regarding promoting app engagement indicate that utilizing an opt-in approach to social features such as leader boards and team challenges is essential. The inclusion of games was also shown to be important for satisfaction, as were the use of audio features, contextually embedded dissemination, and streamlined app design for comprehension in this target group. CONCLUSIONS This research provides critical insights and concrete recommendations for the development of lifestyle improvement apps targeted toward disadvantaged young adults in nonurban settings, specifically RICs. It serves as a framework for future app development projects using a consultative user-centered design approach, supporting calls for the increased use of this strategy in app development.

A ‘whole systems’ approach to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: issues for global health promotion through a small island lens

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 150-153
Author(s):  
Angela M. Jackson-Morris
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Reduce Sugar

Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is a prominent strategy to reduce sugar intake and non-communicable disease (NCD) risk worldwide. Recommended measures encompass policy, environmental modification, health literacy, reformulation and taxation. This commentary draws from an intervention to reduce SSB consumption in a remote, rural context with high intake and under-developed alternatives and health literacy. The island of St Helena introduced SSB taxation from 2014, yet impact appeared limited. In 2018, supply and demand measures for substitute products were developed, alongside a taxation increase. Preliminary data indicate a shift away from SSB towards non-sugar beverages (artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) and tap water). Issues for global health promotion include the specific manifestation of social and commercial determinants of health in remote and rural contexts, integrated multifaceted strategies to provide supporting conditions for policies such as SSB taxation to deliver impact, and the role of ASB to reduce SSB in high consumption contexts.

scholarly journals Strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and increase water access and intake among young children: perspectives from expert stakeholders

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 3440-3449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey A Vercammen ◽  
Johannah M Frelier ◽  
Caitlin M Lowery ◽  
Alyssa J Moran ◽  
Sara N Bleich
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Water Access ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Beverage Consumption ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Reduce Sugar ◽  
Email Invitation

AbstractObjectivesTo summarize stakeholder recommendations and ratings of strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and increase water access and intake among young children (0–5 years).DesignTwo online surveys: survey 1 asked respondents to recommend novel and innovative strategies to promote healthy beverage behaviour; survey 2 asked respondents to rank each of these strategies on five domains (overall importance, feasibility, effectiveness, reach, health equity). Open-ended questions were coded and analysed for thematic content.SettingUsing a snowball sampling approach, respondents were invited to complete the survey through an email invitation or an anonymous listserv link. Of the individuals who received a private email invitation, 24 % completed survey 1 and 29 % completed survey 2.SubjectsSurvey 1 (n 276) and survey 2 (n 182) included expert stakeholders who work on issues related to SSB and water consumption.ResultsSix overarching strategies emerged to change beverage consumption behaviours (survey 1): education; campaigns and contests; marketing and advertising; price changes; physical access; and improving the capacity of settings to promote healthy beverages. Labelling and sugar reduction (e.g. reformulation) were recommended as strategies to reduce SSB consumption, while water testing and remediation emerged as a strategy to promote water intake. Stakeholders most frequently recommended (survey 1) and provided higher ratings (survey 2) to strategies that used policy, systems and/or environmental changes.ConclusionsThe present study is the first to assess stakeholder opinions on strategies to promote healthy beverage consumption. This knowledge is key for understanding where stakeholders believe resources can be best utilized.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Promoting Water Intake to Reduce Sugar-sweetened Beverage Consumption (P04-005-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Dibay Moghadam ◽  
James W Krieger ◽  
Diana Louden
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Beverage Consumption ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Reduce Sugar

Abstract Objectives To examine whether promotion of water intake in the general population in and of itself reduces sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption independent from interventions that target SSBs. Methods Seven electronic databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CAB Direct, and Web of Science. The search hedge included concepts of drinking water, sweetened beverages, and clinical or controlled or longitudinal studies. Selected studies included a primary water promotion intervention and were published between 1 January 2000 and 6 January 2019, while those with more than a minimal SSB reduction intervention were excluded. We identified 5652 publications, chose 107 for full-text review and selected 17 for this review. Two authors independently extracted data using predefined data fields and rated study quality. Results Nine of the 17 studies were randomized controlled trials, six were non-randomized controlled trials, and two were single-group pre-post studies. Participants were primarily children and adolescents. Seven studies reported a decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Among the eight studies that successfully increased water intake, five reported beneficial effects on SSB intake while three did not. Of the five positive studies, three were at serious or high risk of bias. Studies with decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption tended to include a home-based or individually focused intervention. Conclusions This review found little evidence that interventions aimed solely at increasing water consumption reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Further research is needed to investigate whether interventions that combine water promotion and SSB reduction strategies could be synergistic for reducing SSB intake. SSB reduction approaches at this time should focus directly on SSBs. Funding Sources Healthy Eating Research Program, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

A systematic review of strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among 0-year to 5-year olds

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1504-1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Vercammen ◽  
J. M. Frelier ◽  
C. M. Lowery ◽  
M. E. McGlone ◽  
C. B. Ebbeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Beverage Consumption ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Reduce Sugar

scholarly journals Arab Online Courses and the Disabled: An Automated and User-Testing Approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jamilah Alamri ◽  
Wejdan Barashi ◽  
Rehab Alsulami ◽  
Lulwah AlHarigy ◽  
Bassmah Shuaib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Automated Testing ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
End User ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Pedagogical Tools ◽  
Think Aloud Protocol

There is a significant increase in the adoption of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) by higher education institutions worldwide and Saudi universities in particular. These pedagogical tools empower teaching and learning by providing access to online learning materials. However, all university students, including students with disabilities, encounter countless instances of inaccessibility that negatively impact their learning experience. In order to offer equal access to all students, it is of paramount importance to enhance the accessibility of LMSs and remove such barriers. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate an online course in the LMS Blackboard (Bb) using an automated and end-user evaluation approach. First, automated testing was carried out by Ally software. Second, end-user testing was conducted using a think-aloud protocol to understand the actual learning experiences. Data from the think-aloud protocol was examined to extract accessibility issues. The findings from the automated testing indicate that the online course is highly accessible in terms of the course materials. However, students were challenged by several accessibility obstacles that surfaced during the think-aloud Bb tasks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that incorporates Bb Ally as an automated checker to test an online course for disabled Saudi students. KEYWORDS Think-aloud protocol, Ally software, Blackboard, Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Blind and visually impaired (BVI) students

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