Comparing the Effect of Lecturing and Mobile Phone Short Message Service (SMS), Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior on Improving Nutritional Behaviors of High School Students in the Prevention of Osteoporosis

Background: Osteoporosis is a common increasing disease on which the lifestyle has an important role. This study aimed to examine the two educational methods (lecture and texting) using the theory of planned behavior on improving the osteoporosis preventive nutritional behaviors in high school students. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study conducted on 138 female students in who were randomly assigned to three groups (intervention group (Lecture), intervention group (mobile phone short message service [SMS]), and control group, with equal group of 46 people. The data collection tool was a researcher made questionnaire consisting of three parts; part A consists of demographic questions, part B consists of questions based on the theory of planned behavior, and part C was the Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The questionnaire was completed by students three times of before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of preventive nutritional behavior scores between the three groups before the intervention. But immediately after the intervention, and two months after that, a significant difference was observed between the mean scores of the preventive nutritional behaviors in the intervention and control groups (P<0.05). Also, the mean scores of preventive nutritional behavior in the two intervention groups, significantly increased in the three steps (P<0.05). Conclusion: The text message method (mobile phone SMS) had a better impact on the improvement of the osteoporosis preventive nutritional behavior than the lecturing method. So considering the new generation tends to the use of today's technology as well as principles of education based on the use of innovative methods, is more effective and affordable.