Low-Income Adults' Preferences for Receiving Nutrition Education Communications Using Various Media Technologies

Abstract

Objective: This study explores low-income adults' access to and use of various media, as well as their preferences for receiving nutrition education (NE) communications. Study Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention: One-on-one surveys were conducted with a convenience sample of low-income adults (n1⁄4228) recruited from 13 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program offices in New Jersey. Outcome, Measures and Analysis: Participants' media use, how they sought nutrition information, and how they preferred to receive NE was recorded; descriptive statistics were run. Results: The participants, aged 18-67 years (mean1⁄435.6 13.0); were mostly female (74.1%), and black (58.2%). Internet use was high (93%). The more media technologies were used, the more they were used for NE, although NE use was consistently low. Respectively percentage use, and use for NE were: websites (80%, 28%), You Tube (64%, 25%), emails (63%, 19%), and Facebook (54%, 14%). When asked if they would like to receive NE via the media used by half or more of the population, on a 5-point Likert scale (11⁄4not interested; 51⁄4really interested), means preferences were: websites (m1⁄43.8 1.6), emails (m1⁄43.6 1.6), online videos (m1⁄43.6 1.6), online exercise games (m1⁄43.5 1.7), Facebook pages (3.4 1.8), YouTube (m1⁄43.4 1.6), Nutrition DVD's (m1⁄43.4 1.7). Least favored technologies for receiving NE included: participation in online support groups (3.0 1.7), online nutrition games (m1⁄43.0 1.7), podcasts 2.6 1.7, blogs (m1⁄4 2.4 1.7) and Twitter (m1⁄41.8 1.4), all of which were used by <50%. Conclusions and Implications:Various media are used by low-income adult participants, but preferences to seek nutrition information vary. Nutrition communications should be tailored accordingly to maximize outreach and acceptability. Funding: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education