Integrating computer-based method into dietary intervention in children at Setiu Wetland: a pilot study

Syahrin Said, . and Zamzahaila Mohd Zin, . and Amir Ngah, . and Madihah Shukri, . and Mohamad Khairi Zainol, . and Siti Salina Abdullah, . Integrating computer-based method into dietary intervention in children at Setiu Wetland: a pilot study. pp. 176-182. ISSN 1823-8556

While computer-based interventions have been shown to effectively improve eating behaviours of children and adolescents in Western countries to our knowledge studies exploring the effectiveness of such interventions are unreported in Malaysian context. This paper presents the findings from a 3-week pilot study that evaluated an intervention designed specifically to change attitude intention and dietary habits of schoolchildren in Setiu Terengganu. The participants in this study were 51 (male N 27 female N 24) children aged 10 years from a primary school. The present pilot study is unique in combining the use of computer-based method along with PowerPoint presentation classroom discussion and hands-on group activities techniques. The intervention sessions took place in a school every Thursday for three consecutive weeks. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire (pre-test) about attitude intention and dietary intake and were re-administered the questionnaire (post-test) after three months to assess the changes. Following the intervention results suggest that there was a significant change in attitude towards unhealthy food (p .01). More importantly a significant increase in vegetable intake (p .001) and a decrease in fast food consumption (p .05) soda drink consumption (p .01) and sweet food intake (p .01) were seen. The findings of this pilot study suggest that computer-based interventions may therefore complement other intervention methods and have the potential to help practitioners tailor an effective intervention to address dietary problem in children.

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Abstract

While computer-based interventions have been shown to effectively improve eating behaviours of children and adolescents in Western countries to our knowledge studies exploring the effectiveness of such interventions are unreported in Malaysian context. This paper presents the findings from a 3-week pilot study that evaluated an intervention designed specifically to change attitude intention and dietary habits of schoolchildren in Setiu Terengganu. The participants in this study were 51 (male N 27 female N 24) children aged 10 years from a primary school. The present pilot study is unique in combining the use of computer-based method along with PowerPoint presentation classroom discussion and hands-on group activities techniques. The intervention sessions took place in a school every Thursday for three consecutive weeks. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire (pre-test) about attitude intention and dietary intake and were re-administered the questionnaire (post-test) after three months to assess the changes. Following the intervention results suggest that there was a significant change in attitude towards unhealthy food (p .01). More importantly a significant increase in vegetable intake (p .001) and a decrease in fast food consumption (p .05) soda drink consumption (p .01) and sweet food intake (p .01) were seen. The findings of this pilot study suggest that computer-based interventions may therefore complement other intervention methods and have the potential to help practitioners tailor an effective intervention to address dietary problem in children.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Feeding behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	Attitudes
AGROVOC Term:	Diet
AGROVOC Term:	Behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	Children
AGROVOC Term:	Food consumption
AGROVOC Term:	Feeding habits
AGROVOC Term:	Rural areas
AGROVOC Term:	Questionnaires
AGROVOC Term:	Nutrition education
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	28 Apr 2025 07:08
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/24204

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