Oral Presentation ANZOS-ASLM-ICCR 2019

Co-designing a text message program to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and social well-being in adolescents at risk of obesity (#103)

Stephanie Partridge 1 2 , Rebecca Raeside 1 , Anna Singleton 1 , Karice Hyun 1 , Alicia Grunseit 3 , Julie Redfern 1 4
  1. Westmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Department of Weight Management, , The Children’s Hospital Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
  4. The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: There is a small body of evidence indicating text messaging interventions can promote weight loss in adults. However, there is limited evidence for text messages to engage adolescent populations in obesity prevention behaviours.

Aim: To co-design a bank of text messages that are evidence-based, acceptable, and engaging for adolescents at risk of obesity.

Methods: An established iterative mixed-methods process was used to develop the text message program. Experts (medical staff, public health researchers) attended a workshop to determine program key message content themes. Text messages were then drafted with two adolescent consumers based on current evidence, behavioural theory and national guidelines. Each individual text message is currently being reviewed 6 times, by experts and adolescents; and ranked for appropriateness, usefulness and clarity on a 5-point Likert scale as well as an option to provide open-ended written feedback. The message bank will be revised accordingly.

Results: Eleven experts agreed on four content priority areas: physical activity knowledge, nutrition knowledge, psychosocial wellbeing, and general lifestyle behaviours (including sleep and social activism). An initial bank of 100 text messages were drafted. Two adolescent consumers reviewed initial messages and assisted development of 45 new messages, which resulted in a bank of 145 messages. To date, 13 experts (10/13 female; 35±12 years; expertise including GPs specialising in adolescent health; high school teachers; adolescent weight management dietitians and public health researchers) and 12 adolescents (6/12 female; 15±2 years; all English-speaking at home) have reviewed text messages. Preliminary findings indicate preferred messages are action-oriented, positive and encouraging and not common knowledge. Adolescents rated messages about the environmental impacts of eating and physical activity highly.

Conclusions: Evidenced-based text messages are currently being co-designed with adolescents to support positive engagement with obesity prevention behaviours. Effectiveness of the text message program will be tested in a randomised controlled trial.