Factors Influencing Efficacy of Nutrition Education Interventions: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 142 - 165.e1
• Main Authors: Murimi, Mary W., Kanyi, Michael, Mupfudze, Tatenda, Amin, Md. Ruhul, Mbogori, Teresia, Aldubayan, Khalid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; behavior change; Counseling; efficacy; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Health Education - methods; Health Education - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Internal Medicine; interventions; issues and policy; Male; meta-analysis; Middle Aged; nutrition education; Nutrition Therapy - methods; Nutrition Therapy - statistics & numerical data; Nutritional Sciences - education; risk; systematic review; Young Adult; nutrition education; interventions; systematic review; efficacy
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2016.09.003

To examine systematically factors that contribute to the efficacy of nutrition education interventions in promoting behavior change for good health based on their stated objective. In a departure from previous reviews, the researchers investigated factors that lead to success of various types of interventions. Critical analysis of these factors constituted the outcome of this review. This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis criteria. A total of 246 original articles published between 2009 and 2015 in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, Science Direct, Cochrane Reviews, ERIC, and PsychLIT were initially considered. The number was screened and scaled down to 40 publications for the final analysis. Quality assessment was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention. Studies were rated as having low risk of bias, moderate risk, or high risk. Efficacy of nutrition education interventions depended on major factors: interventions that lasted ≥5 months; having ≤3 focused objectives; appropriate design and use of theories; fidelity in interventions; and support from policy makers and management for worksite environmental interventions. Intervention duration of ≥5 months, ≤3 focused objectives, randomization, use of theories, and fidelity are factors that enhance success of interventions based on the results of this study.