A quasi-experimental study evaluating a health promotion program targeting healthy nutrition, physical activity and social network enhancement for low-income multi-problem households: study protocol

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Previous studies have shown that people living in multi-problem households are less physically active, eat less healthy, have unstable social networks, and worse self-perceived general health than other people. The aim of this paper is to describe the development and evaluation of a health promotion program called “Back2Balance” for low-income multi-problem households aimed at improving healthy nutrition, physical activity, social networks, and self-perceived health.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The Back2Balance program was developed using input from two formative studies and a co-creation process together with the target group and social workers. We used the theoretical domains framework to identify the functional components of our program. The Back2Balance program consists of: 1) a walking group, 2) cooking workshops, 3) motivational talks, 4) discounts on existing health promotion programs, and 5) family trips and children’s activities. In a quasi-experimental study respondents in the intervention group receive the usual social services support for multi-problem households and have the possibility to enroll in the program. Respondents in the control group only receive usual social services support.<strong> </strong>The program will be evaluated among 272 respondents from low-income multi-problem households living in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This protocol describes the development and evaluation of the Back2Balance program. We hypothesize that the program will lead to increased physical activity, healthy nutrition, social networks enhancement, and self-perceived health. The results of this study can be used as input for other national or international initiatives aiming to increase health of low-income multi-problem households.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Trial registration: </strong>NTR6512</p><p class="abstract"> </p>

Reasons for (not) participating in a community‐based health promotion program for low‐income multi‐problem households in the Netherlands: A qualitative study

“…A quasi-experimental study was performed to examine the effectiveness of the program, which consisted of a baseline survey and two follow-up surveys among an intervention and a control group (Abidi et al, 2018). People who participated in the intervention What is known about this topic?…”

“…We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 28 peo- Inclusion criteria were: a disposable household income up to 150% of the minimum wage; problems in more than one of the following areas on which social workers in Apeldoorn work (finances, social networking and social participation, mental health, physical health, addiction, domestic relations, daycare, school, work, housing or delinquent behaviour); 12 years of age or older; and residing in Apeldoorn or in the surrounding villages (Abidi et al, 2018).…”

“…A secondary aim was to examine whether these reasons differed among people with different educational levels, ages, gender, overweight versus healthy weight, and the extent to which they participated in the program. When developing the Back2Balance health promotion program, we tried to incorporate elements to make it attractive for the target group to participate and to take away possible barriers for participation (Abidi, Nagelhout, Spruijt, Schutte, & De Vries, 2018). The program was developed in co-creation with the target group and with involvement of social workers and an expert panel.…”

How Do Health and Social Networks Compare between Low-Income Multiproblem Households and the General Population?

“…The second sample consisted of the general population from Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. The first sample was part of a quasi-experimental intervention study [6], but in the current study we only used data from the baseline questionnaire. The study protocol of this study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Zuyderland and Zuyd Hogeschool (METC number: 17-N-80).…”

“…Low-income multiproblem household members (n = 105) were recruited between September 2017 and July 2018 by their social workers, by staff of a local welfare organization, or by a researcher. Inclusion criteria were a disposable income up to 150% of the minimum wage, receipt of social care for problems in more than one area, residence in Apeldoorn, and an age of 16 years or older [6]. Everyone from the household who was aged 16 years or older could participate in the study, but typically only one or two persons from the household did (people from 93 households participated).…”