Abstract:

The treatment of childhood cancer, usually carried out in outpatient centers, consists of frequent returns for examinations, administration of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and/or blood products, as well as for medical consultations and with multidisciplinary teams. In this modality of procedures, factors considered stressful for a child are present, such as aspects intrinsic to the disease and treatment, such as feelings of fear, insecurity and living with pain. Adequate nutritional support and dietary adaptations are necessary to minimize the adverse effects caused by the treatment. The social distancing, imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, established the need to use new ways of caring for others, making social media the main means of development and production of content, dialogues, and exchange of experiences. This study aims to describe the learning that took place via strategic adaptation in the dissemination of food and nutrition education activities to the families of children undergoing cancer treatment. The DÓ RÉ "ME FAZ COMER" (make me eat) Project, which has been developed since 2017 by professors and students at the Federal University of Paraíba - Brazil, adapted to the period of social isolation, imposed by the pandemic, through the adoption of a playful activities methodology, developed remotely, via social networks (Instagram) and WhatsApp, which was used to communicate with those responsible for the children. From 2020 to 2021, the actions consisted of stories with characters from fairy tales and popular culture, games, and educational materials, culminating in culinary workshops that had healthy food as the protagonist. As a result, 38 educational materials of low cost and easy reproduction (through pictures using simple language) have been published, using resources such as videos, music, and animations, made on the Canva digital platform. It was also ensured that those responsible for the children previously assisted in the face-to-face actions, continued to receive the necessary information for their proper nutritional support. The evaluation metrics on the engagement of users on Instagram have been measured through the continuous increase in the number of followers/targets, likes, shares and comments, resulting in an increase in the 110% of information reach since its implementation. In this way, about 441 people, including family members and supporters, were impacted by these actions in the last sixteen months, contrasting positively with the average of 100 children assisted in person in the pre-pandemic period. Based on the experience of this project, we can say that it is possible to promote learning via user-friendly digital platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp. In our case study, resources have reduced communication barriers through social virtualization, even as physical barriers have widened, allowing parents and guardians to provide better nutrition for children undergoing isolation treatment.

Keywords:

Playful activities, food education, culinary workshops.