Perceptions of the characteristics of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth by child care providers may influence early adoption of nutrition guidelines in child care centres

Abstract

In 2008, the Alberta government released the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth (ANGCY) as a resource for child care facilities to translate nutrition recommendations into practical food choices. Using a multiple case study method, early adoption of the guidelines was examined in two child care centres in Alberta, Canada. Key constructs from the Diffusion of Innovations framework were used to develop an interview protocol based on the perceived characteristics of the guidelines (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability) by child care providers. Analysis of the ANGCY was conducted by a trained qualitative researcher and validated by an external qualitative researcher. This entailed reviewing guideline content, layout, organisation, presentation, format, comprehensiveness and dissemination to understand whether characteristics of the guidelines affect the adoption process. Data were collected through direct observation, key informant interviews and documentation of field notes. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Overall, the guidelines were perceived positively by child care providers. Child care providers found the guidelines to have a high relative advantage, be compatible with current practice, have a low level of complexity, easy to try and easy to observe changes. It is valuable to understand how child care providers perceive characteristics of guidelines as this is the first step in identifying the needs of child care providers with respect to early adoption and identifying potential educational strategies important for dissemination.

Women’s perceptions of discussions about gestational weight gain with health care providers during pregnancy and postpartum: a qualitative study

“…All focus groups were conducted by two trained members of the ENRICH research team: the Program Manager (HN) and the Knowledge Translation Coordinator (JT). The Program Manager has formal training in qualitative methods and analyses and several years’ experience in this field [20, 21]. The Knowledge Translation Coordinator has experience in helping conduct focus groups in academic settings and within non-governmental organisations.…”

Organizational characteristics and processes are important in the adoption of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth in child-care centres

“…The present qualitative study was part of Phase 2 of an evaluation framework of The Alberta Nutrition Guidelines Outcomes (TANGO) study that evaluated the implementation of the ANGCY in schools, child-care and recreational facilities ( 14 , 15 ) . In Phase 1 of TANGO, awareness of and intention to use the guidelines were assessed in 488 child-care centres in Alberta, Canada using a telephone-based survey.…”

Implementation of Healthy Eating Interventions in Center-Based Childcare: The Selection, Application, and Reporting of Theories, Models, and Frameworks

“…Description of a change process 33,34,63 Disciplinary approval 64 Analytic level 33,65 Design implementation strategies 34 Identify factors 64 Explain outcomes 64 Include nonadopters in future studies 64 (continued) Identify factors 66 Explore: The external network influences on sharing of skills between centers 66 ; the impact of networks on the environment 66 ; the role of prior interventions in creating additional external networks 66 A conceptual framework for organizational readiness to implement nutrition and physical activity programs in early childhood education settings Inform assessment 67 Develop own approach 67 Timing should be considered when using the framework 67 Factors that influence the menu at childcare centers…”