Usability and engagement of web application on parental behaviors for child obesity intervention
1 Institute for Health Behavioural Research, National Institutes of Health, Malaysia.
2 Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), Malaysia.
Research Article
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2024, 20(01), 549–554.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2024.20.1.0804
Publication history:
Received on 09 September 2024; revised on 21 October 2024; accepted on 23 October 2024
Abstract:
Background: Childhood obesity is a growing global health issue, with increasing prevalence in Asian countries, including Malaysia. Web applications such as JEJAK BMI offer an alternative intervention to address this concern by targeting parental behaviors that could influence their children’s weight. The usability and engagement of the app used are important elements that could influence the intervention outcome.
Objective: To assess the engagement and usability of JEJAK BMI apps that could affect parental use of apps in child obesity interventions.
Methods: To evaluate the app’s usability, three criteria were evaluated which were ease of use, visual appeal and functionality, post-intervention questionnaires were completed by the parents.
Results: The study found that most parents considered the app practical, easy to use, visually engaging and functional. However, the impact on children's BMI over the short term was inconclusive.
Conclusion: The JEJAK BMI web application demonstrated strong usability and positive effects on parental behaviors. Nonetheless, significant changes in children's BMI may require longer-term interventions and additional strategies.
Keywords:
Child obesity; App usability; Engagement; Parental behavior; E- Health
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0