Effects of the Quest to Lava Mountain Computer Game on Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors of Elementary School Children: A Pilot Group-Randomized Controlled Trial

Sharma, Shreela V.; Shegog, Ross; Chow, Joanne; Finley, Carrie E.; Pomeroy, Mike; Smith, Carolyn L.; Hoelscher, Deanna M.

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2015.02.022

Cited by 41 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Participants were recruited from school settings [ 8 – 13 , 15 – 18 ], with the exception of one study that recruited boy scout troops [ 14 ]. Participant age ranged from nine to seventeen.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participant age ranged from nine to seventeen. Four studies focused on twelve- to fourteen-year-olds [ 8 – 9 , 11 , 17 ], four included older participants (fifteen- to seventeen-year-olds) [ 10 , 12 – 13 , 18 ], and three encompassed younger ones [ 13 – 14 , 16 ]. All studies included participants from developed countries, but five interventions targeted specific populations such as low-income groups, ethnic minorities, or minority females or males [ 11 – 14 , 18 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sample sizes ranged from 87 to 1298 participants, and three studies observed over 800 adolescents [ 8 , 10 , 12 ]. Of the eleven interventions, two were randomized controlled trials [ 11 , 17 ], five were cluster randomized controlled trials [ 9 – 10 , 13 , 15 , 18 ], and four used a quasi-experimental design [ 8 , 12 , 14 , 16 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutritional interventions for adolescents using information and communication technologies (ICTs): A systematic review

et al. 2017

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A cost-effective and interactive way of promoting healthy nutrition behaviors among adolescents is using information and communication technologies (ICTs). We systematically reviewed studies to identify technologies and their main characteristics used for nutritional interventions for adolescents, as well as to evaluate their quality and effectiveness. Our full protocol is available on the PROSPERO website (#CRD42016035882). A search was conducted across five databases for articles describing nutritional interventions that used ICTs designed mainly for healthy adolescents. Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental and observational studies, and full and original papers, all of them published from 2005 to 2015, were included. Study quality was assessed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Our search yielded 559 titles and abstracts. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Participants were recruited mostly from schools. Study follow-up ranged from two weeks to two years. Four interventions were based on the Social Cognitive Theory. Interventional strategies included computer games, programs, text messages, and interactive CD-ROMs. Nine studies used computer-mediated ICTs. Five studies focused on multiple behaviors simultaneously. Participants were exposed to interventions only once, daily, weekly, or according to a pre-determined number of lessons. Five studies had significant outcomes. Our quality assessment revealed three studies to be weak due to non-representativeness of their samples and usage of non-validated questionnaires. Besides the heterogeneity and poor quality of the analyzed studies, it can be suggested that long-term interventions for adolescents that make use of frequent exposure to technological resources, and that have a theoretical component aimed at a single health behavior change, tend to be more successful.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutritional interventions for adolescents using information and communication technologies (ICTs): A systematic review

et al. 2017

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“…ASPIRE is an online tobacco prevention and cessation curriculum, developed jointly by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth, with demonstrated efficacy in preventing smoking onset in high school youth [36]. The Quest to Lava Mountain, developed as part of the Texas Department of Agriculture NutriGram program by The Cooper Institute, is an educational game designed to raise awareness about healthy eating and physical activity [37]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet-Based Delivery of Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: A Case Study

et al. 2016

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BackgroundAmerican Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth face multiple health challenges compared to other racial/ethnic groups, which could potentially be ameliorated by the dissemination of evidence-based adolescent health promotion programs. Previous studies have indicated that limited trained personnel, cultural barriers, and geographic isolation may hinder the reach and implementation of evidence-based health promotion programs among AI/AN youth. Although Internet access is variable in AI/AN communities across the United States, it is swiftly and steadily improving, and it may provide a viable strategy to disseminate evidence-based health promotion programs to this underserved population.ObjectiveWe explored the potential of using the Internet to disseminate evidence-based health promotion programs on multiple health topics to AI/AN youth living in diverse communities across 3 geographically dispersed regions of the United States. Specifically, we assessed the Internet’s potential to increase the reach and implementation of evidence-based health promotion programs for AI/AN youth, and to engage AI/AN youth.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial was conducted in 25 participating sites in Alaska, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. Predominantly AI/AN youth, aged 12-14 years, accessed 6 evidence-based health promotion programs delivered via the Internet, which focused on sexual health, hearing loss, alcohol use, tobacco use, drug use, and nutrition and physical activity. Adult site coordinators completed computer-based education inventory surveys, connectivity and bandwidth testing to assess parameters related to program reach (computer access, connectivity, and bandwidth), and implementation logs to assess barriers to implementation (program errors and delivery issues). We assessed youths’ perceptions of program engagement via ratings on ease of use, understandability, credibility, likeability, perceived impact, and motivational appeal, using previously established measures.ResultsSites had sufficient computer access and Internet connectivity to implement the 6 programs with adequate fidelity; however, variable bandwidth (ranging from 0.24 to 93.5 megabits per second; mean 25.6) and technical issues led some sites to access programs via back-up modalities (eg, uploading the programs from a Universal Serial Bus drive). The number of youth providing engagement ratings varied by program (n=40-191; 48-60% female, 85-90% self-identified AI/AN). Across programs, youth rated the programs as easy to use (68-91%), trustworthy (61-89%), likeable (59-87%), and impactful (63-91%). Most youth understood the words in the programs (60-83%), although some needed hints to complete the programs (16-49%). Overall, 37-66% of the participants would recommend the programs to a classmate, and 62-87% found the programs enjoyable when compared to other school lessons.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate the potential of the Internet to enhance the reach and implementation of evidence-based health promotion programs, and to engage AI/AN ...

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“…Specific learning approaches to improve students’ nutrition knowledge or dietary behaviors are separately explored and recommended in the literature, such as integrating nutrition topics with other school subjects [ 6 ], food preparation and cooking activities [ 21 , 22 ], school gardens [ 9 , 23 ], and game-based innovations [ 24 , 25 ]. Carraway-Stage and colleagues also suggest that in order to increase students’ exposure to nutrition-related information in schools it is necessary to integrate nutrition topics within other subjects (such as science) [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Professionals’ Recommended Strategies to Improve Australian Adolescents’ Knowledge of Nutrition and Food Systems

et al. 2017

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Background: Education and policy measures within schools are valuable strategies to promote health. This study explored views of experienced food-related educators, researchers and policy-makers regarding their recommended strategies to improve Australian adolescents’ knowledge of nutrition and food systems (N&FS). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-one experienced food-related experts from across Australia. Interviews were conducted either by telephone or face-to-face. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results: Five central themes and five sub-themes were identified from food professionals’ suggestions for best strategies to improve adolescents’ knowledge of N&FS. The central themes included: (1) specific improvements in schools’ core curricula; (2) pre-service and in-service training of school teachers about N&FS; (3) training students to develop a critical mind about N&FS issues; (4) multidisciplinary collaborations to improve school-based N&FS education; and (5) a supportive N&FS education environment for students. Conclusion and implication: These findings provide a guide for curriculum developers, educational policy developers, and food educators to incorporate the suggested N&FS strategies into Australian education programs in order to improve Australian adolescents’ knowledge and skills of N&FS issues. The results of this investigation also may assist the development of international N&FS curricula guides.

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Effects of the Quest to Lava Mountain Computer Game on Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors of Elementary School Children: A Pilot Group-Randomized Controlled Trial

Cited by 41 publications

References 23 publications

Nutritional interventions for adolescents using information and communication technologies (ICTs): A systematic review

Nutritional interventions for adolescents using information and communication technologies (ICTs): A systematic review

Internet-Based Delivery of Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: A Case Study

Professionals’ Recommended Strategies to Improve Australian Adolescents’ Knowledge of Nutrition and Food Systems

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