How effective are health messages/warnings in improving knowledge and awareness of alcohol-related harm? The Slovenian case on using a mobile app.
Alcohol
Alcohol labelling
Alcohol-related harm
Awareness
Health warnings
Mobile app
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 Dec 2023
11 Dec 2023
Historique:
received:
14
06
2023
accepted:
27
11
2023
medline:
12
12
2023
pubmed:
12
12
2023
entrez:
12
12
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Consumers generally lack access to information on alcoholic beverages, in spite of it being readily available for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Given the rights of consumers, and as with other products harmful to the population, there have been increasing calls for health warnings to be placed on alcoholic beverages, similar to those implemented on tobacco products. The aim of our research was to assess whether knowledge and awareness of the risks and harms associated with alcohol can be improved with a mobile app. Intervention was conducted using VKJ mobile app, which enables users to scan the barcode of an alcoholic beverage and receive feedback on its labelled alcohol content and estimated energy value. At each search, eleven different health messages/warnings about the risks and harms of alcohol are also displayed randomly, rotating on the screen. A survey was conducted before and after the intervention, to assess the knowledge and awareness of the risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol. Significant differences were found for eight of the twelve tested statements. The improvement was seen to a greater extent in the group of high-risk drinkers. The results also showed that the vast majority of participants (78%) who were exposed to the health messages supported mandatory labelling of alcoholic beverages with information on ingredient listing and energy value, and 72% would like to have health warnings on alcohol products. The use of a mobile app can be an option to improve knowledge and raise awareness of the risks and harms related to alcohol.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Consumers generally lack access to information on alcoholic beverages, in spite of it being readily available for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Given the rights of consumers, and as with other products harmful to the population, there have been increasing calls for health warnings to be placed on alcoholic beverages, similar to those implemented on tobacco products. The aim of our research was to assess whether knowledge and awareness of the risks and harms associated with alcohol can be improved with a mobile app.
METHODS
METHODS
Intervention was conducted using VKJ mobile app, which enables users to scan the barcode of an alcoholic beverage and receive feedback on its labelled alcohol content and estimated energy value. At each search, eleven different health messages/warnings about the risks and harms of alcohol are also displayed randomly, rotating on the screen. A survey was conducted before and after the intervention, to assess the knowledge and awareness of the risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Significant differences were found for eight of the twelve tested statements. The improvement was seen to a greater extent in the group of high-risk drinkers. The results also showed that the vast majority of participants (78%) who were exposed to the health messages supported mandatory labelling of alcoholic beverages with information on ingredient listing and energy value, and 72% would like to have health warnings on alcohol products.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The use of a mobile app can be an option to improve knowledge and raise awareness of the risks and harms related to alcohol.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38082375
doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17353-5
pii: 10.1186/s12889-023-17353-5
pmc: PMC10712114
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
2467Subventions
Organisme : Slovenian Research Agency
ID : P3-0395
Organisme : Slovenian Research Agency
ID : P3-0395
Organisme : Slovenian Research Agency
ID : P2-0098
Organisme : Slovenian Research Agency
ID : P3-0395
Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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