The Feasibility of an eLearning Nutrition Education Program for Low-Income Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Online eLearning may be an innovative, efficient, and cost-effective method of providing nutrition education to a diverse low-income audience.

AIMS: The intent of this project is to examine perceptions of nutrition educators regarding the feasibility of an eLearning nutrition education program tailored to low-income Georgians.

METHOD: Semistructured individual interviews were conducted, guided by the constructivist theory. The interview guide focused on three themes: accessibility, literacy, and content. A prototype of the program also served as a talking point. Interviews were conducted in two urban Georgian counties in a location chosen by each participant. We recruited a convenience sample of Georgian nutrition educators ( n = 10, 100% female, 50% Black). Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using constant comparative method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Motivation is considered the primary barrier to program feasibility. Neither access to the Internet nor literacy are considered significant barriers. Inclusion of skill-based, visual education methods such as cooking videos, recipes, and step-by-step teaching tools was highlighted. Nutrition educators perceived this program would be a feasible form of nutrition education for the priority audience.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study will inform the user-centered development of the program.