Date of Award

8-2026

Degree Name

MS in Nutrition

Department/Program

Food Science and Nutrition

College

College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

Anna Cahn

Advisor Department

Food Science and Nutrition

Advisor College

College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Wildland firefighters perform physically demanding work under challenging environmental conditions that place substantial demands on nutritional health and occupational performance. Despite the importance of nutrition in supporting physical performance, recovery, and long-term health, limited research has examined nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors among California wildland firefighters or evaluated the feasibility of remotely delivered nutrition education interventions within this occupational population. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to assess baseline nutrition knowledge, nutrition self-efficacy, and dietary behaviors while evaluating the feasibility of a 12-week WhatsApp-delivered nutrition education intervention among California wildland firefighters.

Twenty-four firefighters completed the baseline assessment and were randomized equally to a nutrition education group or an occupational health education control group. Educational materials and study activities were delivered remotely through WhatsApp over 12 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated using participant recruitment, formal retention, adherence to scheduled weekly activities, and completion of the post-intervention assessment. Baseline nutrition knowledge, nutrition self-efficacy, and self-reported dietary intake were assessed using investigator-developed questionnaire items. Exploratory analyses examined changes in nutrition knowledge and nutrition self-efficacy among participants completing both baseline and post-intervention assessments.

Participants demonstrated moderate baseline nutrition knowledge and relatively high nutrition self-efficacy while reporting greater intake of lean animal protein than fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The target sample was recruited, educational materials were distributed remotely as scheduled, and 23 of 24 participants (95.8%) remained formally enrolled. However, active participation was low and declined throughout the intervention. The proportion of participants completing at least one scheduled weekly activity decreased from 52.6% during Weeks 1–4 to 15.2% during Weeks 9–12, while mean weekly adherence decreased from 30.2% to 6.2%. Only six participants completed the post-intervention assessment, and five provided complete paired data. Among those five participants, mean nutrition knowledge increased over the study period, whereas nutrition self-efficacy remained relatively stable; these exploratory changes cannot be attributed to the nutrition education intervention.

WhatsApp enabled the scheduled remote distribution of educational materials, but successful delivery and high formal retention did not translate into sustained participation. Low and declining adherence and limited post-intervention assessment completion did not support the feasibility of the complete 12-week protocol as implemented. Substantial refinement, including reduced participant burden, stronger follow-up procedures, and strategies to support continued participation, is needed before evaluating the intervention in a larger efficacy trial.

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