This study used a prospective, longitudinal design to examine predictors of parent engagement in one component of the Imperial County, California, Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration study (CA-CORD). The objective of CA-CORD (conducted January 2012-June 2015), was to prevent and control childhood obesity by improving four weight-related behaviors: fruit and vegetable consumption, water consumption, physical activity, quality sleep. CA-CORD used a quasi-experimental pre/post-test design with three intervention arms and one control group, and implemented intervention strategies in five sectors: (1) healthcare, (2) early care and education centers, (3) schools, (4) community recreation organizations, and (5) restaurants. It was designed and implemented via a partnership between San Diego State University Research Foundation’s Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, Clínicas de Salud Del Pueblo, Inc., and the Imperial County Public Health Department. The full design and protocol of CA-CORD is described elsewhere [29 (link)]; it was registered as a clinical trial 22/07/2014 (Trial registration: NCT02197390).
The present study examined predictors of parent engagement in the Family Wellness Program, which was part of the CA-CORD healthcare sector intervention. The Family Wellness Program was included as part of an obesity care model implemented at Clínicas de Salud Del Pueblo, Inc., a large, federally-qualified health center. The program included a series of six healthy lifestyle workshops typically held weekly in small group settings (5–10 families per workshop). The workshops were led by trained community health workers (CHWs) and the content was rooted in health behavior change research and family systems theory [21 (link), 30 , 31 (link)]. Specifically, the evidence-based workshop curriculum was planned to promote health within the home by encouraging both parents and children to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors by teaching them to navigate common challenges, such as social and structural barriers at home and in the community. For instance, parents received education on effective communication and parenting practices surrounding weight-related behaviors, including increasing parental capacity to set limits on certain behaviors, such as amount of screen time or sugary beverage consumption. Most workshop content was delivered to parents and children separately, though several joint activities were conducted. Families enrolled in the Family Wellness Program were also invited to attend a series of eight physical activity classes during the same six-week period as the lifestyle workshops. The physical activity classes taught families activities they could perform together at home. Parents received motivational interviewing phone calls at the start of the program and at quarterly intervals for the following year, to encourage attendance at workshops and classes, and the continued use of the new skills. Finally, parents received monthly educational newsletters. While the Family Wellness Program included many components, the outcome for the present study was attendance at the lifestyle workshops, as participation in the other components was either optional (i.e., physical activity classes) or passive (i.e., newsletters). All recruitment, informed consent, and measurement materials were approved by the SDSU Institutional Review Board and available in English and Spanish.
The present study examined predictors of parent engagement in the Family Wellness Program, which was part of the CA-CORD healthcare sector intervention. The Family Wellness Program was included as part of an obesity care model implemented at Clínicas de Salud Del Pueblo, Inc., a large, federally-qualified health center. The program included a series of six healthy lifestyle workshops typically held weekly in small group settings (5–10 families per workshop). The workshops were led by trained community health workers (CHWs) and the content was rooted in health behavior change research and family systems theory [21 (link), 30 , 31 (link)]. Specifically, the evidence-based workshop curriculum was planned to promote health within the home by encouraging both parents and children to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors by teaching them to navigate common challenges, such as social and structural barriers at home and in the community. For instance, parents received education on effective communication and parenting practices surrounding weight-related behaviors, including increasing parental capacity to set limits on certain behaviors, such as amount of screen time or sugary beverage consumption. Most workshop content was delivered to parents and children separately, though several joint activities were conducted. Families enrolled in the Family Wellness Program were also invited to attend a series of eight physical activity classes during the same six-week period as the lifestyle workshops. The physical activity classes taught families activities they could perform together at home. Parents received motivational interviewing phone calls at the start of the program and at quarterly intervals for the following year, to encourage attendance at workshops and classes, and the continued use of the new skills. Finally, parents received monthly educational newsletters. While the Family Wellness Program included many components, the outcome for the present study was attendance at the lifestyle workshops, as participation in the other components was either optional (i.e., physical activity classes) or passive (i.e., newsletters). All recruitment, informed consent, and measurement materials were approved by the SDSU Institutional Review Board and available in English and Spanish.
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