A process evaluation of a health promotion intervention to increase breakfast consumption in children

Abstract

Background This study, part of a community-based nutrition study, aimed to understand the participating experiences of a one-month health promotion intervention in children and parents. The intervention aimed at prompting breakfast consumption amongst children. The specific intervention strategies consisted of mobile text messaging relating to how to cook nutritious and fast breakfast, breakfast-related cartoons provided for children, and group information sessions relating to breakfast consumption for parents. Methods This study, a process evaluation, conducted 30 individual semi-structured interviews. Results Text messaging may be a feasible delivery modality to promote breakfast consumption in children. The extensive contact intensity or amount of intervention strategies may have an adverse impact on prompting breakfast consumption. Disease- and risk-related educational content has the potential to promote breakfast consumption in children. Conclusion Text messaging shows promise in increasing breakfast consumption in children, with careful design of contact intensity of educational intervention strategies warranted in the intervention planning process. Content related to the side-effects of breakfast skipping has the potential to promote breakfast consumption in children. However, future research is required to fully understand the quality and effectiveness of these intervention strategies, employing quantitative methodologies.