Strategies for enhancing the implementation of school-based policies or practices targeting risk factors for chronic disease

Abstract

Given the very low quality of the available evidence, it is uncertain whether the strategies tested improve implementation of the targeted school-based policies or practices, student health behaviours, or the knowledge or attitudes of school staff. It is also uncertain if strategies to improve implementation are cost-effective or if they result in unintended adverse consequences. Further research is required to guide efforts to facilitate the translation of evidence into practice in this setting.

What should governments be doing to prevent diabetes throughout the life course?

“…To date, studies involving young people in school-and community-based noncommunicable disease prevention interventions are scarce [69]. Furthermore, most analyses either report weak overall study quality [53,70] or call for more rigorously carried out studies with longer follow-up periods [38,71]. Although data on the sustainability of school policies are lacking [53], policy debates can already make use of effective policies targeting food in the school environment as these have the potential to improve childhood dietary habits and health [68].…”

The Effect of Temperature and Time of the Hydrothermal Treatment in the SBA-15 Synthesis Process on the Structure and Textural Properties and the Ability to Reduce the Evolution of Tars in Tobacco Smoking

“…From the confirmation of these new revelations, the need arose to prevent and control this deeply ingrained habit. However, until the last few decades, no great efforts had been made to reduce the consumption of tobacco through campaigns of awareness about the effects of smoking on health, increasing costs, or prohibiting consumption in certain places [5][6][7]. In this respect, although the percentage of the smoking population has been reduced, many people still consume tobacco.…”

What happens once a program has been implemented? A call for research investigating strategies to enhance public health program sustainability

“…We recently sought to assess the effectiveness of implementation strategies in sustaining improvements in implementation of non‐communicable prevention policies or practices in community settings. We examined all trials included in a series of systematic reviews funded by The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre 4,8–10 . The reviews included trials (randomised and non‐randomised) with a parallel control group that examined the impact of an implementation strategy on the fidelity of implementation of a policy or practice by a school, childcare centre, workplace or sporting venue.…”

“…The reviews included trials (randomised and non‐randomised) with a parallel control group that examined the impact of an implementation strategy on the fidelity of implementation of a policy or practice by a school, childcare centre, workplace or sporting venue. Studies of policies or practices that targeted diet, physical activity, obesity, tobacco or alcohol use were eligible 4,8–10 . Consistent with definitions used in previous reviews, sustained implementation was defined as sustaining a statistically significant intervention effect on a measure of implementation fidelity achieved post‐intervention for at least three months thereafter.…”

“…Of the 108 full texts examined, we did not find any trials that met our inclusion criteria. That is, not a single trial identified across four comprehensive reviews 4,8–10 reported a significant effect on at least one implementation outcome post‐intervention and further assessed if such effects were maintained at a longer‐term follow up. We also re‐analysed data collected as part of a bibliographic study of all 1,648 manuscripts published in 10 leading public health journals in 2013 and failed to identify any trials assessing the sustainability of program implementation 11 .…”