Economic Analysis of Bilingual Interactive Multimedia Nutrition Education

Interactive multimedia (IMM) provides a means to deliver accurate, consistent, and convenient nutrition education. To compare direct costs of bilingual IMM and peer nutrition education methods. Cost per unit of nutrition education for each delivery method was calculated. Touch-screen computer kiosk systems in food assistance programs. Approximately 727 low-income and Hispanic persons. Bilingual IMM and nutrition education classes taught by peer educators. Cost per unit of nutrition education delivered. Descriptive: to compare costs and determine break-even points. Initially, costs for both methods dropped and then nearly leveled for the peer method at a break-even point of 633 units, whereas those for IMM continued to decrease. Interactive multimedia is a cost-effective method of delivering nutrition education, especially to large numbers of people. Use of this technology could reach additional low-income persons at decreasing costs.