Participant Experiences of an Infant Obesity Prevention Program Delivered via Telephone Calls or Text Messages

Abstract

A 3-arm randomised controlled trial implemented in 2017, recruited participants from four Local Health Districts (LHDs) in New South Wales (NSW) to test an early obesity prevention program delivered via telephone calls (telephone) or text messages (SMS). This sub-study explored participants’ experience and satisfaction with the program. A multimethod design was used. Quantitative satisfaction questions were completed by participants when their child was six-months old. A purposive sample of participants with varying satisfaction levels was invited for in-depth qualitative interviews. Data were analysed using Excel (quantitative) and inductive thematic analysis (qualitative). Of the 1155 participants recruited: 947 (293 telephone; 338 SMS; 316 control) completed the six-month survey; 34 (14 telephone; 13 SMS; 7 control) were interviewed. Participants’ overall program satisfaction was 100% (telephone) and 85% (SMS). Participants’ qualitative responses demonstrated appreciation of: personalised stage-based information; opportunity to communicate with health professionals (telephone); linked Healthy Beginnings booklets and SMS mostly as nudges (SMS). There is a clear need for stage-based information, and supplemented modes of delivery i.e., text messages along with telephone calls; with text messages solely seen as nudges or reminders. However, individual preferences vary according to information needs at any given time, time constraints on new mothers and hence, multiple modes of information provision are recommended in order to reach a wider population and for better engagement. Choice and flexibility in mode of delivery has the potential to provide equitable access to information, empowering women with infants to practice recommended health behaviours for infant obesity prevention.

Process evaluations of early childhood obesity prevention interventions delivered via telephone or text messages: a systematic review

“…Process evaluation findings highlight participants’ appreciation of the convenience of receiving interventions via telephone or text messages [ 63 , 69 ], and the importance of delivering interventions from credible sources for participants’ compliance with interventions and behaviour changes [ 63 – 65 , 67 ]. Level of engagement in a program was not dependent on the mode of delivery but was dictated by participants’ needs and on their children’s developmental stage [ 33 , 63 , 67 ].…”

“…Process evaluation findings highlight participants’ appreciation of the convenience of receiving interventions via telephone or text messages [ 63 , 69 ], and the importance of delivering interventions from credible sources for participants’ compliance with interventions and behaviour changes [ 63 – 65 , 67 ]. Level of engagement in a program was not dependent on the mode of delivery but was dictated by participants’ needs and on their children’s developmental stage [ 33 , 63 , 67 ]. Although participants perceived telephone or text messages as convenient, they expressed preference to be able to receive interventions through a combination of one or more delivery methods, namely, telephone, text messages, Web, apps with optional face-to-face [ 63 , 66 , 67 ].…”

“…All eight studies quantitatively measured participant satisfaction at the time interventions were delivered. Qualitative interviews with trial participants were conducted by three studies during the intervention phase [63][64][65] and by five studies post-intervention [32,33,[66][67][68], with only one study measuring perceptions of participants and recruiters during the recruitment phase [69]. Details of this analysis are shown in supplementary file 1.…”

“…Participants' perceptions / satisfaction with the program during the intervention phase of the study were evaluated by three studies through in-depth interviews [65], qualitative interviews [64] and semi-structured qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of participants during intervention phase [63]. Five studies evaluated participants' perceptions upon completion of the intervention or postintervention period through semi-structured interviews [68], semi-structured telephone interviews with purposive sampling [67], qualitative interviews [66], a questionnaire with open-ended process evaluation questions [32] and an in-person exit interview [33].…”

A Review of Registered Randomized Controlled Trials for the Prevention of Obesity in Infancy

“…Important contextual factors that underlie interventions such as level of background health care and features of the target population may influence the level of effectiveness (14). Qualitative analyses including process analysis of behavioural interventions showing how they work and in which population groups are lacking (15).…”