Facilitators and barriers of children's participation in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity interventions: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Clinical Trials
• Public Health Interventions
• Health Behavior Research

Background:

• Child recruitment for clinical trials presents unique challenges.
• Existing reviews often focus on drug trials, potentially overlooking nuances in lifestyle interventions.
• Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity interventions require specific recruitment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review facilitators and barriers to children's participation in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity interventions.
• To gather perspectives from parents, children, and researchers on recruitment.
• To inform future recruitment strategies for pediatric lifestyle studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies identified from five databases.
• Inclusion criteria: children aged 2-18 years, English language, reporting recruitment facilitators/barriers.
• Exclusion criteria: studies not reporting recruitment results.

Main Results:

• Identified 26 included studies after screening 423 records.
• Top barriers: time constraints, complexity of trial information/consent, and logistical issues (transportation, childcare).
• Key facilitators: perceived benefits (self/others), compensation/incentives, and healthcare provider recommendations.

Conclusions:

• Addressing identified barriers is crucial for successful pediatric recruitment in lifestyle interventions.
• Leveraging facilitators like incentives and physician referrals can enhance participation.
• Future research should consider these factors to optimize recruitment in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity trials.