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Incorporating the use of puppets and puppetry-based approaches in nutrition: a scoping review of interventions
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Incorporating the use of puppets and puppetry-based approaches in nutrition: a scoping review of interventions

Basil H. Aboul-Enein, Nada Benajiba, Majd Jan, Sarah Ali Alasmari, Patricia J. Kelly, Stephen F. Gambescia and Elizabeth Dodge
Journal of nutritional science (Cambridge), v 15, e32
01 May 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2026.10102
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https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2026.10102View
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Abstract

Education intervention nutrition puppetry puppets
Puppetry-based activities could serve as a low cost and manageable intervention in improving health-related outcomes. This review aims to identify the research to date and gaps in practice of the role and application of puppetry interventions in nutrition education. A scoping review was conducted using the PICOS framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, identifying studies across eight databases between January, 1980 and July, 2025.Twenty-five studies were identified, with the majority ( n = 19) aimed at pre-school and school-aged children. Fifteen studies used quasi-experimental, pre–post designs. The use of hand and finger puppets was common, as well as videos and puppet theatre. Studies reported consistently positive findings in knowledge gain and psychosocial involvement, but mixed results on behaviour change. Little is known about the rationale for the type of puppet used, the scripts, and what audience was targeted for nutrition intervention messaging. Research could be undertaken to give more insight into matching what type of puppet to use to match the nature, scope, and extent of the educational message. Reports and recommendations in this review showed that participant engagement is a common and important objective. The gaps of knowledge in use of puppetry in nutrition education are many, thus creating opportunities for further evaluations and research, particularly in utilising what seems to be a manageable intervention within health promotion and disease prevention programmes. Puppetry can be a low cost, flexible, and easy to manage adjunct to nutrition education activities, providing culturally appropriate messaging with a range of audiences.

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