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Development and evaluation of an online tool for management of overweight children in primary care: a pilot study
Min Hae Park1, Áine Skow1, Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja2
1Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Insights
This pilot study found that the Computer-Assisted Treatment of CHildren (CATCH) tool was acceptable for assessing and managing childhood obesity in primary care. Both families and practitioners reported satisfaction with the online tool and its personalized advice.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Digital Health Interventions
- Obesity Management
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Effective management strategies are needed in primary care settings.
- Existing tools may not fully address the complexities of childhood obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the acceptability of the Computer-Assisted Treatment of CHildren (CATCH) online tool.
- To assess the feasibility of implementing CATCH in primary care for childhood obesity management.
- To explore user experiences of families and practitioners with the CATCH tool.
Main Methods:
- An uncontrolled pilot study with process evaluation in three UK general practices.
- 14 families with children aged 5-18 years participated.
- Intervention involved consultations using the CATCH tool, followed by questionnaires and interviews.
Main Results:
- High satisfaction reported by 86% of families and 100% of practitioners.
- Participants found the tool easy to use, with beneficial personalized advice and visual aids.
- A need for structured, practical post-consultation support for weight management was identified.
Conclusions:
- The CATCH online tool is implementable and acceptable in primary care for childhood obesity.
- The tool shows promise for assessing and managing childhood obesity.
- Further development and evaluation of the CATCH tool are recommended.
Objective:
To explore the acceptability of implementing an online tool for the assessment and management of childhood obesity (Computer-Assisted Treatment of CHildren, CATCH) in primary care.
Design And Setting:
An uncontrolled pilot study with integral process evaluation conducted at three general practices in northwest London, UK (November 2012-April 2013).
Participants:
Families with concerns about excess weight in a child aged 5-18 years (n=14 children).
Intervention:
Families had a consultation with a doctor or nurse using CATCH, which assessed child weight status, cardiometabolic risk and risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties and provided personalised lifestyle advice. Families and practitioners completed questionnaires to assess the acceptability and usefulness of the consultation, and participated in semistructured interviews which explored user experiences.
Outcome Measures:
The primary outcome was family satisfaction with the tool-assisted consultation. Secondary outcomes were practitioners' satisfaction, and acceptability and usefulness of the intervention to families and practitioners.
Results:
The majority of families (86%, n=12) and all practitioners (n=4) were satisfied with the consultation. Participants reported that the tool was easy to use, the personalised lifestyle advice useful and the use of visual aids beneficial. Families and practitioners identified a need for practical, structured support for weight management following the consultation.
Conclusions:
The results of this pilot study indicate that an online tool for assessment and management of childhood obesity can be implemented in primary care, and is acceptable to patients, families and practitioners. Further development and evaluation of the tool is warranted.
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