A mixed-methods evaluation using low-income adult Georgians' experience with a smartphone-based eLearning nutrition...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Nutrition Education

Background:

• Low-income adults face unique challenges in accessing and utilizing nutrition education.
• Smartphone-based e-learning presents a potential avenue for delivering accessible nutrition interventions.
• Understanding user expectations and experiences is crucial for designing effective digital health programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the expectations and experiences of low-income adults with the Food eTalk smartphone-based e-learning nutrition program.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to engagement with digital nutrition education among this population.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, mixed-methods single case study design was employed.
• Data collection included focus groups, individual interviews, surveys (demographics, internet habits), and user-tracking data.
• Qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method; quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Main Results:

• Participants found the Food eTalk program intuitive and well-designed.
• Key themes included motivation as a barrier to e-learning engagement and the challenge of applying nutrition knowledge to behavior change.
• Suggestions for improvement included interactive content (games, videos), relevance, brevity, and external incentives.

Conclusions:

• Effective e-learning nutrition programs for low-income adults should align with smartphone usage patterns.
• Content must be highly relevant to the audience's perceived needs and address practical barriers to healthy eating.
• Program design should incorporate interactive elements and consider external incentives to boost engagement and behavior change.