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Feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a co-designed and personalised intervention (Veg4Me) to improve vegetable intake in young adults living in rural Australian communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2025

K.M. Livingstone
Affiliation:
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
J.C. Rawstorn
Affiliation:
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
S.R. Partridge
Affiliation:
Engagement and Co-design Research Hub, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Y. Zhang
Affiliation:
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
E. O
Affiliation:
Digital Services, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
S.L. Godrich
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Bunbury, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
S.A. McNaughton
Affiliation:
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
G.A. Hendrie
Affiliation:
Human Health Program, CSIRO, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
K. Dullaghan
Affiliation:
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
G. Abbott
Affiliation:
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
L.C. Blekkenhorst
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
R. Maddison
Affiliation:
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
S. Barnett
Affiliation:
Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
J.C. Mathers
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
L. Alston
Affiliation:
Deakin Rural Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract

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Low vegetable intake is a key contributor to the health burden experienced by young adults in rural communities(1). Digital interventions provide an accessible delivery model that can be personalised to meet the diverse preferences of young adults(2). This study aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a personalised digital intervention to increase vegetable intake (Veg4Me), co-designed to meet the needs of young adults living in rural Australian communities(3). A 12-week assessor-blinded, two-arm, parallel randomised controlled trial was undertaken from August 2023 until April 2024. Young adults (18–35 years; consuming < 5 serves of vegetables/day; with an internet-connected device) living in Loddon Campaspe or Colac Otway Shire in Victoria, Australia, were recruited via social media and local government networks. Participants were randomised to receive 12 weeks of personalised (intervention) or non-personalised (control) support via a free web application (app; Veg4Me). Key features included 1) recipes personalised to users’ dietary and cooking preferences, 2) geo-located food environment map, 3) healthy eating resources, 4) goal-setting portal and 5) personalised e-newsletters. The primary outcome was feasibility: recruitment, participation and retention rate. Secondary outcomes were usability and user experience, perceived changed in vegetable intake, self-reported vegetable intake, and confidence to cook fresh green and root vegetables. Regression analyses (adjusted for baseline) were used to test for significant differences between groups. A total of n = 536 individuals registered on the Veg4Me website. After excluding fraudulent and duplicate responses (n = 289), n = 124 were eligible and provided consent to participate, n = 116 were randomised and n = 83 completed postintervention data collection. The recruitment rate was 47%, participation rate was 93% and retention rate was 72%. Compared to the control, more intervention participants were satisfied with Veg4Me (76% vs 52%). Most intervention participants reported that access to personalised recipes gave them confidence to eat a wider variety of vegetables (83%), while 76% accessed the food environment map, 63% accessed the healthy eating resources, 78% accessed the goal-setting function and 90% reported that the e-newsletters prompted them to access Veg4Me. Compared to the control, more intervention participants perceived that their vegetable intake had changed in the last 12 weeks (85% vs 57%; p = 0.013). Mean vegetable intake at 12 weeks in intervention and control participants was 2.7 (SD 1.0) and 2.7 (SD 1.4) serves/day, respectively (p = 0.67). Confidence to cook fresh green vegetables at 12 weeks in intervention and control participants was 93% and 91%, respectively (p = 0.24), while for root vegetables this was 88% and 81%, respectively (p = 0.11). Findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of the Veg4Me intervention, and some evidence of efficacy. This study introduces a new strategy that has promise for addressing diet and health inequities experienced by young adults living in rural communities.

Type
Abstract
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

References

Alston, L, Walker, T, Kent, K (2020) Nutrients 12(11), 3515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O’Connor, S, Hanlon, P, O’Donnell, CA et al. (2016) BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 16(1), 120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Livingstone, KM, Rawstorn, JC, Partridge, SR et al. (2024) BMJ Open 14(1), e078001.Google Scholar