The Formative Evaluation of an Educational Tool to Help Curb Children’s Intake of Sugary Beverages

Abstract

Since 1977, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has doubled and the average portion size has increased by 46% (Rader, 2014). The impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on a child’s health could be detrimental; identifying cost-effective methods to reduce to reduce their intake is an active area of research (Boles et al., 2014). For this reason, the Rethink Your Drink campaign is an effort to limit children’s consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and support healthier selections. The purpose of this thesis was to conduct formative research via interviews regarding a three-dimensional model developed as an additional educational resource for use in primary and dental care settings. The purpose of this model is to highlight the importance of limiting sugary beverage consumption and to encourage more healthful beverage choices by children and parents/guardians. Semi-structured in-depth interviews occurred with eligible health care professionals in Washoe County who provide care to school-aged children from low-income households. I listened to the recorded interviews, transcribed quotes verbatim, coded the quotes for meaning, recognized patterns, and categorized them into groups. While some participants expressed overall satisfaction with the model, many provided suggestions in areas to improve the model and increase its effectiveness. The results of this study provided new, informative data from health professionals concerning the features and characteristics of the three-dimensional educational model for use in primary and dental care settings to help curb children’s intake of sugary drinks and promote more healthful beverage choices.