Effectiveness of a Program Based on Telehealth in Nutritional Knowledge and Body Mass Index in Peruvian University Teachers

Abstract

Background: University teachers, as agents of socialization, are one of the most influential groups in improving public health, and their nutritional knowledge can influence both the eating behavior of students and the family. Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of a telehealth program on the level of nutritional knowledge and body mass index (BMI) of university teachers. Methods: A pre-experimental study was carried out from August to December 2020. A pretest and a posttest were applied. The number of teachers in the initial test was 88 and those included in the final evaluation, 83; and they were selected by nonprobability sampling for convenience. The telehealth-based program lasted 18 weeks and included basic information on nutrition and motivational messages. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected through a predesigned questionnaire before and after the educational program. Results: Posttest knowledge scores increased significantly from 6.40 ± 1.70 to 10.59 ± 1.18 ( P < .001). In relation to time, significant variations are observed in weight measurements ( P < .001), BMI ( P < .001), and basic nutritional knowledge ( P < .001) before and after the intervention program. Conclusion: The telehealth-based intervention improved basic nutritional knowledge levels and BMI. Likewise, the current findings provide evidence on the importance and need to develop future nutritional education programs that comprehensively encompass all study plans for the benefit of the university community.