Construction, development, and evaluation of educational actions via Mobile Health focusing on reduction of sodium consumption in an educational institution

Abstract

Objective: Describe the process of construction and development of educational actions through mHealth aiming sodium reduction and accomplishment of evaluation from the receptor’s point of view. Methods: Interventional study accomplished within 155 adults from 20 to 59 years old from a public institution in Vitória-ES. The participants were approached through banners, face to face invitations and electronic medias. After the first data collection the participants were randomized into two groups: Intervention (GI) and control (GC). Socioeconomic data about health and eating habits were obtained before and after the intervention. 21 messages and 3 videos focusing on the sodium reduction were prepared and sent via Whatsapp or e- mail for 3 months. Appropriate tests, according to the sample’s design, were applied using the software SPSS 23 with a significance level of 5%. Results: On the baseline were not observed significant differences between the allocation groups. Nearly 70% of the GI participants reported that the information was useful, clear and objective; 50% reported that the messages helped them to do healthier eating choices and 47% claimed that they followed the suggestions that were proposed to them. More than 60% of GI reported that they have adopted healthier eating habits while in GC the reports were related to the execution of ‘’trending diets’’. These results show the importance of the use of educational actions based on scientific knowledge and adoption of healthy eating habits. Conclusion: Most of the participants classified the mHealth strategy as a useful and easy understanding one, as well as they were exposed to health eating information.