Abstract
BackgroundIn the UK, rates of childhood obesity remain high. Community based programmes for child obesity prevention are available to be commissioned by local authorities. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding how programmes are commissioned and which attributes of programmes are valued most by commissioners. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that decision-makers prioritise when commissioning programmes that target childhood obesity prevention.MethodsAn online discrete choice experiment (DCE) was used to survey commissioners and decision makers in the UK to assess their willingness-to-pay for childhood obesity programmes.ResultsA total of 64 commissioners and other decision makers completed the DCE. The impact of programmes on behavioural outcomes was prioritised, with participants willing to pay an extra £16,600/year if average daily fruit and vegetable intake increased for each child by one additional portion. Participants also prioritised programmes that had greater number of parents fully completing them, and were willing to pay an extra £4810/year for every additional parent completing a programme. The number of parents enrolling in a programme (holding the number completing fixed) and hours of staff time required did not significantly influence choices.ConclusionsEmphasis on high programme completion rates and success increasing children’s fruit and vegetable intake has potential to increase commissioning of community based obesity prevention programmes.
Highlights
In the UK, rates of childhood obesity remain high
Childhood obesity is prioritised in many areas, with prevention in the early years recognised as a key strategy [8, 9]
The attributes and levels selected for the discrete choice experiment (DCE) were guided by items/outcomes reported in previous evaluations [15, 25]
Summary
Community based programmes for child obesity prevention are available to be commissioned by local authorities. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that decision-makers prioritise when commissioning programmes that target childhood obesity prevention. As part of addressing this responsibility, commissioners within local authorities can choose to provide various public health programmes. Local strategies and health priorities influence the choice of programmes that are commissioned. Childhood obesity is prioritised in many areas, with prevention in the early years recognised as a key strategy [8, 9]. Programmes targeting obesity prevention in preschool children vary in their approach, including interventions aiming to modify food preferences (e.g. through repeated exposure to fruit and vegetables [10, 11]), parent focused interventions Programmes targeting obesity prevention in preschool children vary in their approach, including interventions aiming to modify food preferences (e.g. through repeated exposure to fruit and vegetables [10, 11]), parent focused interventions (e.g. [12, 13]) and behaviour change interventions directly targeting children [14]
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