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Reflexive Evidence and Systems interventions to Prevention Obesity and Non-communicable Disease (RESPOND): protocol
Jillian Whelan1,2, Joshua Hayward2, Melanie Nichols2
1School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
This study introduces the RESPOND trial protocol, a systems science approach to combat childhood obesity. It aims to build community stakeholder capacity in implementing effective obesity prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Systems Science
- Obesity Prevention
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a complex issue requiring dynamic systems science approaches.
- Previous systems science interventions for childhood obesity have yielded varied results.
- The Reflexive Evidence and Systems interventions to Prevention Obesity and Non-communicable Disease (RESPOND) trial protocol is presented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the protocol for the RESPOND trial, a novel systems science methodology for childhood obesity prevention.
- To advance previous approaches by operationalizing a clear systems methodology.
- To build community stakeholder capacity in designing and implementing systems-based interventions.
Main Methods:
- A 4-year cluster-randomised stepped-wedge trial in 10 Victorian local government areas.
- Intervention stages include: catalyse and set up, monitoring, community engagement, and implementation.
- Data collection includes individual (weight, diet, activity) and community-level metrics (engagement, networks, costs, mental models).
- Baseline data collected from >3700 children across 91 primary schools.
Main Results:
- This section details the trial protocol and methodology.
- Baseline prevalence data have been collected.
- The trial is designed for comprehensive evaluation of individual, community, cost-effectiveness, and implementation processes.
Conclusions:
- The RESPOND trial represents a significant advance in applying systems science to childhood obesity prevention.
- The protocol operationalizes a clear systems methodology and focuses on building stakeholder capacity.
- Findings will be disseminated through academic publications, conferences, and community channels.
Introduction:
Systems science methodologies have been used in attempts to address the complex and dynamic causes of childhood obesity with varied results. This paper presents a protocol for the Reflexive Evidence and Systems interventions to Prevention Obesity and Non-communicable Disease (RESPOND) trial. RESPOND represents a significant advance on previous approaches by identifying and operationalising a clear systems methodology and building skills and knowledge in the design and implementation of this approach among community stakeholders.
Methods And Analysis:
RESPOND is a 4-year cluster-randomised stepped-wedge trial in 10 local government areas in Victoria, Australia. The intervention comprises four stages: catalyse and set up, monitoring, community engagement and implementation. The trial will be evaluated for individuals, community settings and context, cost-effectiveness, and systems and implementation processes. Individual-level data including weight status, diet and activity behaviours will be collected every 2 years from school children in grades 2, 4 and 6 using an opt-out consent process. Community-level data will include knowledge and engagement, collaboration networks, economic costs and shifts in mental models aligned with systems training. Baseline prevalence data were collected between March and June 2019 among >3700 children from 91 primary schools.
Ethics And Dissemination:
Ethics approval: Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC 2018-381) or Deakin University's Faculty of Health Ethics Advisory Committee (HEAG-H_2019-1; HEAG-H 37_2019; HEAG-H 173_2018; HEAG-H 12_2019); Victorian Government Department of Education and Training (2019_003943); Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne (Catholic Education Melbourne, 2019-0872) and Diocese of Sandhurst (24 May 2019). The results of RESPOND, including primary and secondary outcomes, and emerging studies developed throughout the intervention, will be published in the academic literature, presented at national and international conferences, community newsletters, newspapers, infographics and relevant social media.
Trial Registration Number:
ACTRN12618001986268p.
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