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'eatNplay' - a rurally-tailored, family-based, telehealth intervention for childhood obesity: Protocol for a
Allisandra G Kummer1, Mary Lynn Davis-Ajami2, Britney Arce3
1School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 E. 7th Street #111, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
Insights
This pilot study explored a telehealth intervention for childhood obesity in rural areas. The
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
- Telemedicine
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant issue in rural areas with limited access to specialized care.
- Telehealth presents a potential solution to bridge the gap in pediatric weight management services for rural populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the rationale, curriculum, and methodology of a pilot randomized controlled trial.
- To evaluate a rural, family-based, telehealth intervention aimed at improving children's weight-related behaviors.
- To compare the telehealth intervention against a control group receiving monthly newsletters.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods randomized design involved 44 rural families with overweight/obese children (ages 5-11).
- Intervention group received weekly 'eatNplay' videoconferencing sessions with a nurse and motivational interviewing expert.
- Outcome measures included participant engagement, child's BMI, behaviors, and parent/guardian reported outcomes at 12 and 26 weeks. Qualitative interviews and linear mixed models were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Pilot study results are anticipated to inform future telehealth interventions for childhood obesity.
- The study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the telehealth approach in rural settings.
- Findings may guide recruitment strategies and interdisciplinary team collaboration for pediatric weight management.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study provides a foundation for refining telehealth methodologies to address childhood obesity in underserved rural communities.
- The findings could enhance the scalability and effectiveness of remote pediatric weight management programs.
Background:
Childhood obesity disproportionately affects rural communities where access to pediatric weight control services is limited. Telehealth may facilitate access to these services.
Objective:
This paper describes the rationale, curriculum, and methodology for conducting a randomized controlled pilot trial of a rural, family-based, telehealth intervention that aims to improve weight-related behaviors among children, compared to monthly newsletters.
Methods:
A mixed-methods randomized design will randomly assign 44 rural families with one or more children aged 5 to 11 years identified as overweight or obese to an intervention or newsletter control group. The intervention group will attend 'eatNplay' group videoconferencing telehealth sessions, conducted weekly by a registered nurse and a motivational interviewing expert, to discuss diet, exercise, sleep, and peer group influences. The control group will receive newsletters covering these topics. Outcome measures at baseline, 12, and 26 weeks will assess 1) participant engagement and satisfaction with 'eatNplay'; 2) child's BMI, dietary behavior, physical activity, and sleep behavior; and 3) parent/guardians' self-reported beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, perceived stress, and perceived quality of life. Analyses will employ 1) thematic analysis of semi-structured parent/guardian interviews after follow-up to help refine the intervention (e.g., curriculum), and 2) linear mixed models to compare outcomes between groups pre- and post-intervention and reduce bias from unobserved variables. Results of this pilot study could refine methodology for conducting telehealth studies, acceptability of healthcare provider-involved recruitment, interdisciplinary team approach, and addressing childhood obesity in rural communities through telehealth.
