The Unique Extended Selection Cohorts Design for the Evaluation of the School-Based Jump-In Intervention on Dietary Habits: A Study Protocol

Abstract

Background: To promote healthy dietary and physical activity behaviour among primary school children, the city of Amsterdam structurally implements the school-based Jump-in intervention in over half of its primary schools. Previously shown to be effective in stimulating physical activity and outside recess play, our study is the first to evaluate Jump-in's effect on children's dietary behaviour. Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation process of an intervention in a real-life setting requests an alternative study design. Methods: we chose a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental Extended Selection Cohorts design to evaluate Jump-in's effectiveness and implementation process. Children and parents from the first ten primary schools that enrolled in the programme in 2016-2017 were invited to participate. The primary outcomes were children's dietary behaviour and behavioural determinants, assessed by child and parent questionnaires, and photographs of the food and drinks children brought to school. Process indicators, contextual factors and satisfaction with the programme were assessed by interviews with health promotion professionals, school principals, school project coordinators, and teachers; focus group discussions with parents and children; and document analysis. Discussion: Conducting research in a real-life setting is accompanied by methodological challenges. Using an Extended Selection Cohorts design provides a valuable alternative when a Randomized Controlled design is not feasible.

Describing South Carolina Public School Administrators' Perceptions and Experiences Related to School‐Based Interventions and Strategies to Promote Healthy Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors: A Qualitative Study

“…Many barriers and facilitators to school‐based healthy PA and eating interventions and strategies identified by participants aligned with findings from previous studies 18‐51 . However, participants shared perspectives that are valuable to minimize barriers and maximize facilitators.…”

“…A semistructured interview guide was developed based on a literature review, 18‐51 the SEM, 56‐60 and the first two steps of the 6SQuID Model 61,62 . Questions addressed the following areas: (1) demographic information, (2) schools' roles in students' weight‐related health and concerns or experiences with weight‐related terminology or stigma, and (3) experiences with school‐based healthy PA and eating interventions and strategies with associated barriers and facilitators.…”

“…Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted to discover patterns within the data 27,32,66,67 . A codebook with a priori codes was developed based on a literature review, 18‐51 the SEM, 56‐60 and the first two steps of the 6SQuID Model 61,62 . Emergent codes were added during Level 2 coding.…”

“…Recent studies explored the barriers and facilitators to school‐based healthy PA and eating interventions and strategies in primary and elementary schools from the viewpoints of students, school personnel, family members, and community stakeholders 18‐51 . However, there are literature gaps on system‐wide barriers and facilitators regarding these types of school‐based programs from the perspectives of public school administrators at all academic levels.…”

Proactive prevention: Act now to disrupt the impending non-communicable disease crisis in low-burden populations

“…In summary, child obesity programs appear to need to be multi-faceted and include home- and community-based aspects. In addition, these programs must be supported by policy to address social, economic, and environmental determinants of health [ 46 , 48 , 49 ].…”