Abstract
Shape Up Under 5 (SUU5) was a two-year early childhood obesity prevention pilot study in Somerville, Massachusetts (2015–2017) designed to test a novel conceptual framework called Stakeholder-driven Community Diffusion. For whole-of-community interventions, this framework posits that diffusion of stakeholders’ knowledge about and engagement with childhood obesity prevention efforts through their social networks will improve the implementation of health-promoting policy and practice changes intended to reduce obesity risk. SUU5 used systems science methods (agent-based modeling, group model building, social network analysis) to design, facilitate, and evaluate the work of 16 multisector stakeholders (‘the Committee’). In this paper, we describe the design and methods of SUU5 using the conceptual framework: the approach to data collection, and methods and rationale for study inputs, activities and evaluation, which together may further our understanding of the hypothesized processes within Stakeholder-driven Community Diffusion. We also present a generalizable conceptual framework for addressing childhood obesity and similar complex public health issues through whole-of-community interventions.
Highlights
Prevalence of obesity in early childhood is high and remains a national and global public health concern [1]
This paper describes the Shape Up Under 5 (SUU5) design, methodology, and conceptual framework, including study activities and data collection
We explain how those process and evaluation methods contribute to a greater understanding of Stakeholder-driven Community Diffusion, and how the work may lead to a better comprehension of diffusion mechanisms to impact communitywide systems change to prevent obesity in early childhood
Summary
Prevalence of obesity in early childhood is high and remains a national and global public health concern [1]. SUU5 draws on systems science in the study design, implementation, and evaluation It considers interactions among stakeholders from multiple sectors (known as heterogeneous actors), promotes understanding of community dynamics around addressing health behaviors, and recognizes nonlinear causes and effects of early childhood obesity [16, 17] [18, 19]. This paper describes the SUU5 design, methodology, and conceptual framework, including study activities and data collection We explain how those process and evaluation methods contribute to a greater understanding of Stakeholder-driven Community Diffusion, and how the work may lead to a better comprehension of diffusion mechanisms to impact communitywide systems change to prevent obesity in early childhood. Committee members provided written informed consent for participation in meetings, surveys, and interviews. 1st degree alters provided electronic consent for participation in online surveys only, and to indicate if they were willing to participate in a semi-structured interview related to their perceptions of the Small Steps: Eat Play Sleep campaign
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
