Text4TotText4Tot

Advanced Public Health CommunicationsAdvanced Public Health Communications

LeMia Jenkins and Pavni Guharoy LeMia Jenkins and Pavni Guharoy

Main conceptMain concept

• Social Cognitive Theory - cues to action and Social Cognitive Theory - cues to action and self efficacyself efficacy

• Provide 2 tips daily for parents of 2-5 year Provide 2 tips daily for parents of 2-5 year olds olds

• Self-incentivized : each time a parent Self-incentivized : each time a parent accomplishes the task for the day, they can accomplishes the task for the day, they can reward themselves with $5. reward themselves with $5.

Target AudienceTarget Audience

-6 parents, with at least 1 child between 6 parents, with at least 1 child between 2-5 years2-5 years

Health Goal- 1 healthy food prep and 1 healthy activity for the child for 7 days)

Focus group findingFocus group finding

• 9 parents – 4 mothers, 5 fathers9 parents – 4 mothers, 5 fathers

• 6 parents and 4 children are overweight6 parents and 4 children are overweight

• NW DC based, middle income, both spouses NW DC based, middle income, both spouses working regular 9am – 6pm jobs, have health working regular 9am – 6pm jobs, have health insuranceinsurance

• Tired, unmotivated, lacking ideas for healthy Tired, unmotivated, lacking ideas for healthy activitiesactivities

• Watched at least 2-4 of TV hours daily Watched at least 2-4 of TV hours daily

Food: Message testedFood: Message tested

• 7.00am 7.00am

• Healthy BreakfastHealthy Breakfast

• Text sample: Txt4TOT: We know you're Text sample: Txt4TOT: We know you're working on maintaining healthy weight, working on maintaining healthy weight, reward yourself with this sweet and healthy reward yourself with this sweet and healthy twist on a traditional breakfast hot cereal. twist on a traditional breakfast hot cereal. Try blueberry oatmeal this morning!Try blueberry oatmeal this morning!

• Response: +12403728394: We tried regular Response: +12403728394: We tried regular oatmeal with some fruit and it was yummy oatmeal with some fruit and it was yummy because it was cold and rainy! $5 for me:)because it was cold and rainy! $5 for me:)

Exercise: message testedExercise: message tested

• 5.00pm5.00pm

• Fun activity instead of watching TVFun activity instead of watching TV

• Text sample: Txt4TOT: When you get Text sample: Txt4TOT: When you get home from work today, put on some home from work today, put on some music instead of the TV. Unwind and music instead of the TV. Unwind and then teach your tot some dance moves then teach your tot some dance moves that make them smile.that make them smile.

• Response: +16014863838:We’re doing Response: +16014863838:We’re doing dance revolution tonight! Great idea!dance revolution tonight! Great idea!

IncentivesIncentives

• 2 parents received $55 points!2 parents received $55 points!

• 2 parents received $ 40 points2 parents received $ 40 points

• 1 parent received $35 points ( but is a 1 parent received $35 points ( but is a single parent)single parent)

• 1 parent did not send/report 1 parent did not send/report

EvaluationEvaluation

• Did each text arrive at convenient times Did each text arrive at convenient times for you to act upon it?for you to act upon it?

• Did you act upon at least 1 text each Did you act upon at least 1 text each day?day?

• Were 2 texts a day, with 1 food idea and Were 2 texts a day, with 1 food idea and 1 activity idea, adequate for you?1 activity idea, adequate for you?

• Did TXT4TOT have good ideas for Did TXT4TOT have good ideas for healthy food and activities?healthy food and activities?

• If these texts continued, would you want If these texts continued, would you want to stay enrolled?to stay enrolled?

Ideas: final productIdeas: final product

• Run for at least 4 weeks with 10 parents Run for at least 4 weeks with 10 parents ( dropout)( dropout)

• Create more opportunities for responses, Create more opportunities for responses, interactioninteraction

• Create website as a parent community and Create website as a parent community and additional resources additional resources

• Make it competitive, announce 3 winnersMake it competitive, announce 3 winners

• Mention participants to encourage/motivateMention participants to encourage/motivate

• Weekly feedback to revise upcoming scriptsWeekly feedback to revise upcoming scripts

• Make platform for smartphones (integrate Make platform for smartphones (integrate picture messaging )picture messaging )