Employees' Expectations of Internet-Based, Workplace Interventions Promoting the Mediterranean Diet:A Qualitative Study
In: Papadaki , A , Thanasoulias , A , Pound , R , Sebire , S J & Jago , R 2016 , ' Employees' Expectations of Internet-Based, Workplace Interventions Promoting the Mediterranean Diet : A Qualitative Study ' , Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior , vol. 48 , no. 10 , pp. 706–715.e1 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.08.003
Objective Explore employees' perceptions of ability to follow the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), preferences for setting goals if asked to follow the MedDiet, and expectations of an Internet-based, workplace MedDiet intervention. Design Seven focus groups to guide intervention development. Setting Four workplaces (business/professional services, government branches) in Southwest England. Participants Employees (n = 29, 51.7% women), ages 24–58 years. Phenomenon of Interest Ability to follow the MedDiet; preferences for goal-setting if asked to follow the MedDiet; intervention content. Analysis Data were analyzed with the use of thematic analysis. Results Participants perceived that adhering to some MedDiet recommendations would be challenging and highlighted cost, taste, and cooking skills as adherence barriers. Behavior change preferences included a tailored approach to goal-setting, reviewing goal progress via a website/smartphone app, and receiving expert feedback via an app/website/text/face-to-face session. Desirable features of an Internet-based MedDiet application included recipes, interactivity, nutritional information, shopping tips, cost-saving information, and a companion smartphone app. Engaging in social support was deemed important to facilitate adherence. Conclusions and Implications An Internet-based, workplace MedDiet intervention should address adherence barriers, utilize a tailored approach to setting and reviewing goals, and activate social support to facilitate adherence. These findings provide insights to planning to promote the MedDiet in non-Mediterranean regions