Nutritional interventions for adolescents using information and communication technologies (ICT) : a systematic review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is considered a nutritional risk period associated with a high prevalence of inadequate dietetic habits, that if not treated, can lead to obesity and non-communicable diseases. Once the majority of adolescents in the USA have access to Internet and electronic devices, an interactive and low-cost way of promoting healthy nutrition behaviors is by using information and communication technologies (ICT) in interventional programs. Therefore, the OBJECTIVE of this systematic reviews is to identify the different technologies and likewise its main characteristics that have been used for nutritional interventions in adolescents as well as evaluate the quality and effectiveness of these studies. METHODS: This study followed PRISMA’s guidelines and had its protocol published on PROSPERO (#CRD42016035882). Five databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scielo.ORG, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were searched to find articles written in English, Portuguese or Spanish describing nutritional interventions programs designed mainly for healthy adolescents that used ICT. MeSH terms representing ICT, nutrition, intervention, and adolescents had to be in the tittle or abstract. Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and observational studies, full papers, and original articles, published between January 2005 and January 2016 were included. Hand searches from reference lists were also performed. Study quality was assessed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Data was synthesized in a table. RESULTS: the search yielded 559 titles and abstracts. 44 studies went further analyses and 11 were included in this review. Participants were mostly recruited from school settings (10 of 11 studies), age varied from 9-17yo. 5 studies targeted specific populations. Study follow-up varied from 2 weeks to 2 years. 4 interventions were based on the Social Cognitive Theory. Interventions strategy included computer games, programs generating tailored feedback, text messages and interactive CD-ROM. 9 studies used computer-mediated ICT. 5 studies focused on multiple behaviors simultaneously. Participants were exposed to intervention once, daily, weekly or according to pre-determined number of lessons. 5 studies had significant outcomes. CONCLUSION: Nutritional interventions for adolescents using ICT shows to be more attractive. New technologies have emerged in the health care scenario. It is not simple to state the most effective interventions due to heterogeneity of studies. However, it can be suggested long-term interventions with more frequent exposure to technology resources that also have a theoretical component targeted to a single health behavior change.