Mahdi Sundus, Chilcott Jim, Buckland Nicola J
Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, 30 Regent St, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK.
Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, Seebohm Rowntree Building, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):2215. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23400-0.
The Change4Life Food Scanner app raises awareness of the nutritional content of barcode-scanned packaged food through a variety of visual displays. This study investigated (1) the feasibility and acceptability of evaluating the effectiveness of the Food Scanner app in reducing children's energy (kcal) and sugar (g) intake over a 3-month period, (2) app engagement and (3) the app's impact on psychological outcomes.
Adopting a non-blinded parallel trial design, 126 parents of 4-11 year olds were randomly assigned (1:1) through block randomisation sequences into a 3-month intervention consisting of exposure to the Food Scanner app (version 1.6; [n = 62]) or no intervention (n = 64). Intervention participants were encouraged to use the app for healthier food choices when shopping. Participants completed baseline and 3-month follow-up (3MFU) measures of child dietary intake, psychological, and health economic outcomes. Dietary intake was also assessed at 1-month. The intervention arm additionally completed fortnightly app engagement measures and all participants provided feasibility feedback at 3MFU. Mixed model Analysis of Variance and independent t-tests of mean differences assessed changes in dietary intake. Descriptive analyses were conducted for all other measures. Ethical approval was obtained by the University of Sheffield Research Ethics Committee (026380).
The study was completed by 64 (51%) of 126 participants (29 [45%] in the intervention group and 35 [55%] in the control group). Most participants (> 80%) found the study acceptable, whilst 68% of intervention participants would recommend the app to others. There was a mean difference in daily energy (kcal) intake of 18 (95% CI: -180; 217) at 3MFU, and a mean difference of 10g in sugar intake (95% CI: -3; 23), between conditions, with a greater reduction within the control condition. Average app engagement declined over the study, from 14.1 min (± 14.7) in week 2 to 6.8 min (± 11.6) in week 12. Minor differences in psychological outcomes were observed between conditions.
Despite high attrition, study procedures were deemed feasible. Low app engagement and usage barriers may have impacted app acceptability and related outcomes. Recommendations are provided for future app development and full-scale trial design.
ISRCTN12169303; 12 May 2025. Retrospectively registered.
“健康生活，食物扫描”应用程序通过各种视觉展示，提高人们对条形码扫描包装食品营养成分的认识。本研究调查了：（1）评估该食物扫描应用程序在3个月内减少儿童能量（千卡）和糖（克）摄入量有效性的可行性和可接受性；（2）应用程序的参与度；（3）该应用程序对心理结果的影响。
采用非盲平行试验设计，通过区组随机化序列将126名4至11岁儿童的家长随机（1:1）分为两组，一组进行为期3个月的干预，即使用食物扫描应用程序（版本1.6；[n = 62]），另一组不进行干预（n = 64）。鼓励干预组参与者在购物时使用该应用程序做出更健康的食物选择。参与者完成了儿童饮食摄入量、心理和健康经济结果的基线测量以及3个月随访（3MFU）测量。在1个月时也评估了饮食摄入量。干预组还每两周完成一次应用程序参与度测量，所有参与者在3MFU时提供可行性反馈。采用混合模型方差分析和均值差异独立t检验评估饮食摄入量的变化。对所有其他测量进行描述性分析。获得了谢菲尔德大学研究伦理委员会的伦理批准（026380）。
126名参与者中有64名（51%）完成了研究（干预组29名[45%]，对照组35名[55%]）。大多数参与者（>80%）认为该研究是可接受的，而68%的干预组参与者会向他人推荐该应用程序。在3MFU时，两组之间每日能量（千卡）摄入量的平均差异为18（95%CI：-180；217），糖摄入量的平均差异为10克（95%CI：-3；23），对照组的减少幅度更大。在研究过程中，应用程序的平均参与度有所下降，从第2周的14.1分钟（±14.7）降至第12周的6.8分钟（±11.6）。两组在心理结果上观察到微小差异。
尽管损耗率较高，但研究程序被认为是可行的。应用程序参与度低和使用障碍可能影响了应用程序的可接受性和相关结果。为未来的应用程序开发和全面试验设计提供了建议。
ISRCTN12169303；2025年5月12日。追溯注册。
