Training for coordinating professionals as part of Dutch integrated care for childhood overweight and obesity – a mixed-methods evaluation

Abstract

IntroductionHealthcare professionals (HCPs) play an important role in childhood overweight and obesity care, yet they often feel ill-equipped to manage this complex and sensitive health problem. As part of Dutch integrated care for childhood overweight and obesity, a training for coordinating professionals (CPs) was designed and carried out. This study evaluates the training based on the four levels of Kirkpatrick’s model of training evaluation: (1) reaction, (2) learning, (3) behaviour, and (4) results.MethodEleven CPs who completed the training participated in this mixed-methods study. First, completed questionnaires on the four levels were analysed with Qualtrics. Next, the transcripts of semi-structured interviews on levels 1, 3 and 4 were analysed in MAXQDA using thematic analysis. ResultsOn level 1, participants were satisfied with the training as it stimulated their professional and personal development, for instance awareness of prejudices about people with overweight and obesity. Barriers, improvements and needs from the training varied between participants based on their background. On level 2, CPs improved knowledge about integrated care and its practice, skills for providing overweight and obesity care, coaching attitudes, and trust and commitment towards local integrated care. On level 3, the extent to which the learnings were practised depended on the experience and local context of the CP. Last, on level 4 CPs mentioned noticing post-training practical results for themselves, the child and the family, integrated care partners, and the participants’ organisation.Conclusion This study evaluated a training for CPs for the support and care they provide to children with overweight and obesity and their families as part of Dutch integrated care. The training contributed to improve knowledge, skills and attitudes of CPs. This study recommends sufficient implementation of local integrated care to optimally practise what was learned. More on-time evaluations of the training and taking the perspective of the organisation into account is needed. This would improve the training and give CPs confidence to adequately provide support and care to children with overweight and obesity and their families.

Scoping literature review and focus groups with healthcare professionals on psychosocial and lifestyle assessments for childhood obesity care

“…HCPs will need time to experiment with the tool, and they will need to gain experience with how to personalize to the needs and priorities of individual children and their parents. The practical implications of this study are already being applied within the context of integrated care in the Netherlands [ 50 , 53 , 54 , 56 , 57 ].…”