Feasibility of bidirectional text messages in evaluating a text-based nutrition education program for low-income parents: Results from the Text2BHealthy program

Stephanie K. Grutzmacher, Ashley L. Munger, Katherine E. Speirs, Lindsey A. Zemeir, Kate C. Richard, Laryessa Worthington

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Text messages are increasingly used in the delivery of health education programs. One appealing aspect of this approach is the possibility of remotely collecting participant data to use in program tailoring or evaluation. The purpose of the present study is to test the feasibility of using text messages to collect participant data. Using data from 33 texted evaluation questions sent through the Text2BHealthy nutrition education program for low-income parents (n = 108−1521) response rates under different incentive and prompting strategies were examined. Response rates are generally low across a pilot year and three program years, ranging from 10–55%. While incentives seemed to be ineffective at improving response rates, results indicate that prompting participants to respond may increase response rates. Individuals who respond to an initial question are highly likely to respond to a follow-up question (88–99%) and to report positive behaviors (68–100%). Responses received through text may be unrepresentative and positively biased. Text messages may be a supplemental data collection strategy in nutrition education programs, but low response rates and response bias undermine data quality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)90-94
Number of pages5
JournalEvaluation and Program Planning
Volume64
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2017

Keywords

  • Mobile health
  • Nutrition education
  • Parent engagement
  • Program evaluation
  • Response rates
  • SNAP-Ed
  • Text messages

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Social Psychology
  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Strategy and Management
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Feasibility of bidirectional text messages in evaluating a text-based nutrition education program for low-income parents: Results from the Text2BHealthy program'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this