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Prevention of Non Communicable Diseases

Effect of a peer-led education intervention on dietary behaviour and physical activity among adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a pilot study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 1590–1593 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of peer-led education intervention on physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and dietary behaviours among adolescents in HCM city, Vietnam. Among students in the intervention arm after a 9-month follow-up, total energy intake was reduced by 304 kcal/day, fat by 13 g/day, carbohydrate by 39 g/day, and sweet foods by 20 g/day, compared to pre-intervention figures (p < 0.05, adjusted for age, BMI at baseline, gender, the interaction between measurement time and intervention groups, and cluster effect in schools). Only total energy intake was significantly lower in the intervention than control students (p < 0.05, after adjustment). Our pilot project has established the feasibility of a peer-led intervention to improve lifestyles among adolescents in HCM city and evidence of improvements in dietary intake. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12619000421134.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from PEPS project but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of PEPS project.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution provided by School Principals, Class Teachers, Participants of all schools who agreed and help to arrange favourable conditions for the research study. We also appreciate M.D. Tam Minh Do, M.D. Thanh Van Kim, and our students, the peer educators, in the faculty of public health, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, who helped us carry out the educational programme at schools. We would like to offer our special thanks to Dr Tanvir M Huda, who gave us helpful advice to solve the problem in data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ngoc-Trinh Thi Nguyen, Hong K. Tang & Minh Ngoc Nguyen

  2. Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Michael J. Dibley & Neeloy Ashraful Alam

Authors
  1. Ngoc-Trinh Thi Nguyen
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  2. Hong K. Tang
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  3. Minh Ngoc Nguyen
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  4. Michael J. Dibley
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  5. Neeloy Ashraful Alam
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Contributions

Each author has contributed, edited and approved the contents of the submitted paper. MJD, NAA, MNN and HKT designed the trial study, NTTN carried out the trial and conducted the data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, literature search, generation of figures. All authors were involved in writing the paper and had final approval of the submitted and published versions.

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Correspondence to Ngoc-Trinh Thi Nguyen.

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Thi Nguyen, NT., Tang, H.K., Nguyen, M.N. et al. Effect of a peer-led education intervention on dietary behaviour and physical activity among adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 1590–1593 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01140-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01140-3

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