Research & Practice
Developing a social media program to accompany a classroom-based nutrition education intervention
The AFRI Media Literacy Project, a joint project between WSU Extension and UW, is designed to prevent childhood obesity by increasing healthy eating behaviors among families with children ages 9-14 years. The project will address the influence of media messages through the development, testing, and dissemination of an intervention that includes media literacy and nutrition education.
Dosage is an important and often limiting factor when undertaking a nutrition education intervention. Research has shown that multi-faceted programs have been shown to have greater impact in terms of stimulating behavioral change, and programs that also include follow-up efforts are also more effective than classroom sessions alone. The objectives for this practicum were to:
- Research usage of social media in public health interventions
- Identify best practices
- Develop appropriate recommendations for the AFRI Project team The goals were to identify technologies that can (a) build a sense of community amongst program participants, (b) provide an ongoing connection between educators and participants, and (c) keep participants engaged and active in the areas of media literacy and healthy eating, leading ultimately toward behavior change.
Materials Available
Project Type(s): MPH Practicum, PH Concentration Poster
Author(s): Diana Reid
Program(s): Master of Public Health, RDN Training
Year: 2013
Adviser(s):