Perceptions of low-income and Hispanic audiences in a rural mountain community to bilingual interactive multimedia

The purpose of this research was to determine perceptions of low-income and Hispanic audiences residing in a rural mountain county toward a bilingual interactive multimedia nutrition education program, La Cocina Saludable (The Healthy Kitchen). In-depth key informant interviews were conducted by a Cooperative Extension agent and a local bilingual woman at 2 sites serving these audiences. All participants at the Early Head Start Center had engaged with La Cocina Saludable prior to the interviews and received lesson reminders for each completed module. In contrast, only 2 of the recruited participants at Eagle Care Clinic had used the program prior to the interviews. Of 27 total interviews, 25 (89%) were conducted in Spanish. All participants at the Early Head Start expressed positive comments about using the program and would be willing to spend more time on the computer. They also reported having tried several concepts at home, such as using less oil and eating fewer fats, using a shopping list, eating correct portion sizes, eating whole-wheat bread, and cleaning the cutting board after each food. The participants at the clinic were positive about possibly using a computer to learn about nutrition, especially during the long time waiting for their appointments. However, they felt that they needed more information about the program or permission to use it. Although the participants at the 2 locations had different experiences with the program, the results from the interviews provided information about outcomes and insight into implementation strategies to increase reach.