The evaluation of a family-based multiple health behaviour intervention targeting girls: The Beyond the 80...

To examine the feasibility and acceptability of Beyond the 80 (BT80), a family-based healthy lifestyle intervention for school-aged girls.

Single-arm mixed-methods feasibility trial.

BT80 was an 8-week intervention co-delivered with a National Rugby League Women's Premiership team. Eligible families included ≥1 parent and a daughter aged 7-11 years. Families participated in weekly in-person educational and practical sessions and completed home-based challenges. Topics included physical activity (including muscle-strengthening activity), sedentary behaviour, healthy eating, communication, emotion literacy, and sleep. A priori targets were set for recruitment (20 families), attendance (70%), retention (70%), fidelity (checklist; 80%), and enjoyment (self-report; 80%). Child engagement (active/passive engagement or interfering behaviour via direct observation), compliance (photo evidence of home-based challenges completed), and acceptability (child/parent self-report and focus groups) were also assessed.

Recruitment (N = 12 families) and attendance (68%) targets were not met, whilst retention (92%) met the target. Intervention fidelity was high (98% education, 100% practical), as was child active/passive engagement (90% education, 96% practical). Child and parent enjoyment was high for educational (child: 82%, parent: 99%) and practical sessions (child: 87%, parent: 98%). Families completed on average 1-2 home-based challenges, and some families found photo submission burdensome. Data collection averaged 102.1 ± 25.6 min at baseline and 69.7 ± 17.9 min at intervention end. Parents found the time and measures acceptable.

The preliminary findings for BT80 are promising, however, recruitment strategies, attendance, and home-based challenge engagement require refinement. Our findings may help to inform the development and refinement of similar family-based interventions.