Korean J Community Nutr.  2017 Jun;22(3):238-247. 10.5720/kjcn.2017.22.3.238.

Leveraging Multimodal Supports using Mobile Phones for Obesity Management in Elementary-School Children: Program Providers' Perspective from a Qualitative Study

• Park MY
• Shim JE
• Kim K
• Hwang JY

• KMID: 2386557
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2017.22.3.238

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to investigate providers' perspectives on current challenges in implementing a program for prevention and management of childhood obesity and adoption of mobile phone as a potential solution of leveraging multimodal delivery and support in a school setting.
METHODS
The qualitative data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews with 23 elementary-school teachers, 6 pediatricians, and 6 dieticians from community health centers and analyzed using a qualitative research methodology.
RESULTS
Current challenges and potential solutions of obesity-prevention and -management program for obesity program for elementary school children were deduced as two themes each. Lack of tailored intervention due to limited recipient motivation, lack of individualized behavioral intervention, and different environmental conditions can be solvable by mobile technology-based personalized intervention which brings about interactive recipient participation, customized behavioral intervention, and ubiquitous accessibility. Lack of sustainable management due to stigmatization, limited interactions between program providers and inconsistent administrative support can be handled by multimodal support based on school setting using mobile platform providing education of health promoting behaviors toward larger scale and interactive networking between program participants, and minimizing administrative burden.
CONCLUSIONS
Adoption of mobile-based health management program may overcome current limitations of child obesity program such as lack of tailored intervention and sustainable management via personalized intervention and multimodal supports although some concerns such as increased screen time need to be carefully considered in a further study.

Keyword

childhood obesity; program provider; mobile phone; personalization; qualitative study

MeSH Terms

Cell Phones*
Child*
Community Health Centers
Education
Humans
Motivation
Nutritionists
Obesity*
Pediatric Obesity
Qualitative Research
Stereotyping

Reference

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