Development of an infant feeding core outcome set for childhood obesity interventions: study protocol

Karen Matvienko-Sikar,Caroline Heary,Declan Devane,Niamh Mcgrath,Michelle Queally,Molly Byrne,Marita Hennessy,Patricia M Kearney,Colette Kelly,Janas Harrington,Elaine Toomey

doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2180-4

Abstract

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a significant public health challenge that affects approximately one in five children worldwide. Infant feeding practices are implicated in the aetiology of childhood obesity. Infant feeding interventions for childhood obesity are increasingly popular but outcome reporting is inconsistent across trials. Lack of standardisation limits examination of intervention effects and mechanisms of change. The aim of the current project is to develop a core set of infant feeding outcomes for children ≤ 1 year old, to be evaluated in childhood obesity intervention trials.MethodsThis project will use similar methodology to previous core outcome development research. An infant feeding core outcome set (COS) will be developed in four stages: (1) a systematic review of the literature, (2) discussion and clarification of outcomes in a meeting involving multiple stakeholder perspectives, (3) prioritisation of outcomes using the Delphi technique with an expert panel of stakeholders, and (4) achieving consensus on the COS using the nominal group technique (NGT) consensus meeting. An online Delphi survey will be conducted following the NGT meeting to prioritise outcomes identified in the systematic review. An NGT meeting will be conducted with groups of health professionals, non-clinician researchers, and parents of infants ≤ 1 year old, to achieve final consensus on the infant feeding COS.DiscussionThis study aims to develop a core outcome set of infant feeding outcomes for randomised infant feeding studies to prevent childhood obesity. This research will improve examination and syntheses of the outcomes of such studies to prevent and reduce childhood obesity.

Highlights

Childhood obesity is a significant public health challenge that affects approximately one in five children worldwide
The aim of this study is to develop an infant feeding core outcome set (COS) that can be used in randomized controlled studies of infant feeding interventions to prevent childhood obesity, which include infants < 1 year old
This will be done based on a systematic review of the peer-reviewed extant literature; a meeting involving multiple stakeholder perspectives to discuss and clarify outcomes; an e-Delphi survey involving an expert panel of international stakeholders; and a nominal group technique (NGT) consensus meeting to finalise the COS

Summary

Methods

The development of this COS adheres to the recommendations provided by the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) initiative and the Core Outcome Set-Standards for Reporting (COS-STAR) statement [13]. An e-Delphi technique will be used to obtain input from an international group of expert stakeholders and achieve consensus on outcomes for the COS. This will consist of three rounds of sequential questionnaires administered online to the panel of stakeholders. The stakeholder groups involved in the Delphi study are the same as those identified for stage 2 but will include parents of infants up to 1 year of age. Procedures Prior to commencement of the Delphi exercise, the list of outcomes identified in stage 1 will be summarised in plain language suitable for members of all stakeholder groups.

Discussion

Background

Objective

Findings