The interplay of communication and health: The potential of communication technologies to promote health behaviour change in school-based nutrition interventions

This study examines the role of communication and digital technologies in school-based nutrition interventions, focusing on their effectiveness in promoting fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among children aged 8 to 12. A quasi-experimental design was applied, comparing a control group with two intervention groups—one using printed communication materials (posters and flyers) and another employing digital learning games. Outcome variables included nutrition knowledge, food label literacy, dietary behaviour, self-efficacy, barriers to change, and nutrition self-care. Findings indicate significant improvements in nutrition knowledge and food label literacy across all groups, highlighting the intervention’s effectiveness. Self-care improved significantly in the treatment groups, while the digital games group demonstrated the strongest effect on actual behaviour change, showing higher F&V consumption and reduced SSB intake. These results reinforce the potential of media communication technologies in health education, particularly digital games, which foster engagement and behaviour change. This study underscores the value of digital tools in cost-effective, scalable health interventions. Future research should explore ways to sustain these effects over time and extend digital strategies to broader public health initiatives.