The effectiveness of an educational program based on the theory of planned behavior on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among primary school students

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among elementary students is increasing daily. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effectiveness of an educational program based on the theory of planned behavior on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among elementary students.

This educational trial study was performed on 155 elementary students (75 in the experimental group and 80 in the control group). Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior. Then, the educational campaign including games, roleplay, exhibition of healthy drinks, the Painting Competition with parents and teachers, and also a parent's training session for the experimental group was carried out for a month. Routine training program has been implemented for the control group.

The mean age of students participating in this study was 10.73±0.93 years their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was 3.87±2.59 glasses per day. Three months after the educational intervention, students and their mothers in both experimental and control groups consumed significantly less sugar-sweetened beverages than before the intervention, but this reduction in consumption in the experimental group was significantly greater than Was the control group after the intervention (p<0.001). In the experimental group, the mean score of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and the intention to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increased significantly (p<0.001), but no significant difference was observed in the control group.  

According to the results of this study, designing and implementing an educational campaign based on the theory of planned behavior in schools can reduce the consumption of sweetened beverages in students and their mothers.