scholarly journals An mHealth intervention to reduce the packing of discretionary foods in children’s lunchboxes in early childhood education and care services: a cluster randomised controlled trial (Preprint)

10.2196/27760 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Pearson ◽  
Meghan Finch ◽  
Rachel Sutherland ◽  
Melanie Kingsland ◽  
Luke Wolfenden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Randomised Controlled

scholarly journals A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of an Intervention to Increase Physical Activity of Preschool-Aged Children Attending Early Childhood Education and Care: Study Protocol for the ‘Everybody Energise’ Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4275
Author(s):  
Tessa Delaney ◽  
Jacklyn K. Jackson ◽  
Jannah Jones ◽  
Alix Hall ◽  
Ashleigh Dives ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Randomised Controlled

The use of ‘Energisers,’ short bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), have been shown to significantly increase children’s physical activity within the school setting but not within Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centres. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of an intervention involving the provision of educator-led daily Energisers to increase the time children spend in MVPA while attending ECEC. Fourteen ECEC centres in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, will be randomised to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group will be supported by the research team to implement three brief (5-min) educator-led Energisers each day for children aged three to six years between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Control ECEC centres will continue to provide ‘normal practice’ to children. The primary trial outcome is child minutes of MVPA whilst in ECEC, assessed objectively via accelerometery over three days. Outcome assessment will occur at baseline and 6 months post-baseline. Linear mixed models under an intention-to-treat framework will be used to compare differences between groups in MVPA at follow-up. This will be the first cluster randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of Energisers in isolation on increasing the time children spend in MVPA.

An mHealth intervention in early childhood education and care services to reduce the packing of discretionary foods in children’s lunchboxes: a cluster randomised controlled trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Pearson ◽  
Meghan Finch ◽  
Rachel Sutherland ◽  
Melanie Kingsland ◽  
Luke Wolfenden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BACKGROUND Interventions in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have the potential to improve child diet at the population level. OBJECTIVE This study aims to test the efficacy of an mHealth intervention in ECEC services to reduce parent packing of foods high in saturated fat, sugar and/or sodium (discretionary foods) in children’s (3-6 years) lunchboxes. METHODS A cluster randomised controlled trial was undertaken with 355 parent/child dyads recruited by phone and in person from 17 ECEC services (8 intervention and 9 control services) . Parents in the intervention group received a 10-week fully automated program, targeting common barriers to packing healthy lunchboxes delivered via an existing service communication app. The program included weekly push notifications, within-app messages, and links to further resources including weblinks and videos. The control group did not receive any intervention. The primary outcomes were kilojoules from discretionary foods and associated nutrients (saturated fat, free sugars and sodium) packed in children’s lunchboxes. Secondary outcomes included consumption of kilojoules from discretionary foods and related nutrients, and packing and consumption of serves of discretionary foods and core food groups. Photography and weights of foods in children’s lunchboxes were undertaken by trained researchers pre and post the trial to assess primary and secondary outcomes. Outcome assessors were blind to service allocation. A process evaluation assessed feasibility, acceptability and use of the app among parents via an online survey. RESULTS Data on packed lunchbox contents were collected for 355/400 (89%) consenting children at baseline and 337/400 (84%) at follow up. There was no significant difference between groups in kilojoules from discretionary foods packed (49.22 kJ, CI=-183.87, 282.31, P= .68), nor for any of the other primary or secondary outcomes. The additional analysis including only data from children of parents who owned the app also failed to detect any change in primary or secondary outcomes. Approximately 63% of parents downloaded the app, and mean viewing rate of weekly within-app messages was 23%. Parents reported that they liked the SWAP IT program (83%), and found the program useful (80%). Estimated viewing rates of within-app messages ranged from 11% to 39% per week. CONCLUSIONS Parents found it acceptable to receive lunchbox information via an existing ECEC communication app, however the intervention did not decrease the amount of energy or associated nutrients from discretionary foods packed in children’s lunchboxes. Low app downloads and program message views indicate a need for further investigation of factors influencing parent engagement with such mHealth interventions. CLINICALTRIAL The trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000133235).

scholarly journals Addressing multiple modifiable risks through structured community-based Learning Clubs to improve maternal and infant health and infant development in rural Vietnam: protocol for a parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e023539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Fisher ◽  
Tuan Tran ◽  
Stanley Luchters ◽  
Thach D Tran ◽  
David B Hipgrave ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Parallel Group ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionOptimal early childhood development is an international priority. Risks during pregnancy and early childhood have lasting effects because growth is rapid. We will test whether a complex intervention addressing multiple modifiable risks: maternal nutrition, mental health, parenting capabilities, infant health and development and gender-based violence, is effective in reducing deficient cognitive development among children aged two in rural Vietnam.Methods and analysisThe Learning Clubs intervention is a structured programme combining perinatal stage-specific information, learning activities and social support. It comprises 20 modules, in 19 accessible, facilitated groups for women at a community centre and one home visit. Evidence-informed content is from interventions to address each risk tested in randomised controlled trials in other resource-constrained settings. Content has been translated and culturally adapted for Vietnam and acceptability and feasibility established in pilot testing.We will conduct a two-arm parallel-group cluster-randomised controlled trial, with the commune as clustering unit. An independent statistician will select 84/112 communes in Ha Nam Province and randomly assign 42 to the control arm providing usual care and 42 to the intervention arm. In total, 1008 pregnant women (12 per commune) from 84 clusters are needed to detect a difference in the primary outcome (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Cognitive Score <1 SD below standardised norm for 2 years of age) of 15% in the control and 8% in the intervention arms, with 80% power, significance 0.05 and intracluster correlation coefficient 0.03.Ethics and disseminationMonash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Certificate Number 20160683), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and the Institutional Review Board of the Hanoi School of Public Health (Certificate Number 017-377IDD- YTCC), Hanoi, Vietnam have approved the trial. Results will be disseminated through a comprehensive multistranded dissemination strategy including peer-reviewed publications, national and international conference presentations, seminars and technical and lay language reports.Trial registration numberACTRN12617000442303; Pre-results.

scholarly journals The effects of a preschool-based intervention for Early Childhood Education and Care teachers in promoting healthy eating and physical activity in young children: A cluster randomised controlled trial

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0255023
Author(s):  
Nicole Toussaint ◽  
Martinette T. Streppel ◽  
Sandra Mul ◽  
Marielle Balledux ◽  
Karen van Drongelen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Positive Effect

The need for excess weight gain prevention in disadvantaged young children is widely recognised. Early Childhood Education and Care teachers are potential key actors in early interventions to prevent overweight and obesity. This study examines the effects of a preschool-based intervention for teachers in promoting healthy eating and physical activity in young children. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted at 41 preschools in a deprived area of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The intervention consisted of 2 programmes that were applied in succession: A Healthy Start and PLAYgrounds for TODdlers. The study period was 9 months. Primary outcomes were assessed via questionnaires and included teachers’ knowledge, attitude, food/activity-related practices, and level of confidence in promoting healthy behaviours. Secondary outcomes in this study were teachers’ and children’s BMI (z-score), body composition, dietary intake and physical activity level. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed using linear mixed models. In total, 115 teachers and 249 children (mean age 3.0 (0.2) years) were included. A positive effect on teachers’ knowledge about the Dutch dietary guidelines was found after the programme A Healthy Start (difference = 1.38; 1-sided 95% CL = 0.29; p = 0.02). This effect was not sustained at 9 months (difference = 0.34; 1-sided 95% CL = -0.76; p = 0.31). The overall intervention had a positive effect on 3 of the 5 attitude statements regarding a healthy lifestyle (difference ranged from 0.34 to 0.55) and on the practice scale Activity-related-Modelling (difference = 0.16; 1-sided 95% CL = 0.06; p = 0.01). No intervention effects were observed on food-related practice scales and the level of confidence in promoting healthy behaviours. At this stage, no effects were seen on teachers’ and children’s BMI (z-score). This study contributes to the professional development of Early Childhood Education and Care teachers and addresses the call for interventions to prevent overweight/obesity and to minimise health inequalities in young children.

scholarly journals Building the skills and confidence of early childhood educators to work with parents: study protocol for the Partnering with Parents cluster randomised controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zvezdana Petrovic ◽  
Olivia Clayton ◽  
Jan Matthews ◽  
Catherine Wade ◽  
Lina Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Support System ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Children’S Learning ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Abstract Background In the early years of life, the benefits of parental engagement in children’s learning are well documented. Early childhood educators are a potentially effective source of support, having opportunity to engage with parents on key issues related to children’s learning and development. Educators report a need for more practical strategies for building positive partnerships with the parents of children in their care. To address this need, we have developed a practice support system, Partnering with Parents, to guide educators in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) through practical strategies for working with parents. Partnering with Parents is designed to be embedded in everyday service delivery. Methods Using a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) with intervention and wait-list control groups, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the Partnering with Parents practice support system under normal service conditions. The intervention is being trialled in ECEC services across Victoria, Australia. Services in the intervention group implemented the 10-week intervention before the control group commenced the intervention. Educators and parents of children attending the participating services are taking part in evaluating the intervention by completing questionnaires online at three time points (before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention group received the intervention). Results One hundred eighteen educators and 302 parents recruited from 19 participating ECEC services have consented to take part in the trial. Conclusions There is considerable potential for ECEC services to improve everyday interactions with parents and potentially child outcomes, by implementing this practice support model. Future research in this field can examine long-term effects of improving the parent-educator relationship. The intervention has potential to be widely embedded in educator training or professional development. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12619000488101. Prospectively registered 25 March 2019.

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