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Does a text messaging intervention improve knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding iodine deficiency and iodized
Ladan Mehran1, Pantea Nazeri, Hossein Delshad
1Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Public Health Nutrition
|August 10, 2012
Summary
Mobile phone text messages effectively improved knowledge and attitudes about iodine deficiency and iodized salt. However, the intervention did not significantly change practice, urinary iodine, or salt iodine levels in this Iranian study.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
- Health Communication
Background:
- Iodine deficiency remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Ensuring adequate iodized salt consumption is crucial for preventing iodine deficiency disorders.
- Mobile phone-based interventions offer a scalable approach to health education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile phone text messaging program in improving knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to iodine deficiency and iodized salt consumption.
- To assess the impact of tele-educational support on public health awareness and behavior.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 205 adult females in Tehran, Iran.
- Participants received daily text messages for 6 weeks, focusing on iodine deficiency and iodized salt.
- Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores, along with biochemical markers, were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in knowledge (P = 0.004) and attitude (P = 0.02) scores compared to the control group.
- No significant differences were observed in practice scores, urinary iodine concentration, or salt iodine content between the groups.
- The study highlights the potential of text messaging for health education but indicates limitations in influencing behavior and physiological markers.
Conclusions:
- Mobile phone text messaging interventions can effectively enhance knowledge and attitudes regarding preventive health topics like iodine deficiency.
- Further research is needed to explore strategies for translating improved knowledge and attitudes into sustained behavioral changes and measurable health outcomes.
- Tele-educational interventions show promise for public health promotion, but their impact on practice and physiological status requires further investigation.
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