Promoting health behaviour in Portuguese children via Short Message Service: The efficacy of a text-messaging programme. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silva, Cátia; Fassnacht, Daniel B; Ali, Kathina; Gonçalves, Sónia; Conceição, Eva; Vaz, Ana; Crosby, Ross D; Machado, Paulo PP
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 20:Number 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 806
• Page End: 815
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: children -- health promotion -- healthy behaviours -- technology; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105315577301
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

A Short Message Service programme was adapted to monitor three health behaviours and provide supportive feedback. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme to increase fruit/vegetable consumption and physical activity and to decrease screen time. A total of 139 Portuguese children, aged 8–10 years, grouped by classroom, were randomly assigned to an intervention (8 weeks of monitoring/feedback) or a control condition. Participants had their key behaviours assessed at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up. A three-level hierarchical linear model was developed. Results showed that the monitoring and feedback programme significantly increased fruit and vegetable consumption over time.