TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing implementation of evidence-based childhood obesity prevention strategies in schools
AU - Totura, Christine M W
AU - Figueroa, Holly Lewis
AU - Wharton, Christopher
AU - Marsiglia, Flavio
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. This research was supported by funding from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), PH RFP 11-016 . The sponsors were not involved in study design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015.
PY - 2015/6/1
Y1 - 2015/6/1
N2 - Objective: Research suggests that schools can play a key role in obesity prevention by implementing evidence-based strategies promoting student health. This study explores school climate factors underlying implementation of evidence-based health and wellness policies and practices in Kindergarten-8th grade programs in the Southwestern United States. Method: Utilizing a participatory research survey approach conducted in December 2011 with school health professionals ( N = 62) and a multiple regression design, a moderated predictive model of implementation climate (i.e., attitudes and beliefs about prevention, school commitment to prevention, barriers, and stakeholder collaboration) was tested. Results: Barriers to obesity prevention efforts, such as lack of resources, support, or strategy clarity, hinder implementation of healthy food policies despite strong school commitment to prevention. Along with the commitment to prevention, stakeholder collaboration predicts physical education strategies, specifically reducing restricted access to physical education as a punishment for student misconduct. Conclusion: Obesity prevention strategy implementation relies on the supportiveness and structure of school climates. Barriers to prevention can impede efforts despite school commitment toward prevention, while stakeholder collaboration can enhance the likelihood that practices are in place.
AB - Objective: Research suggests that schools can play a key role in obesity prevention by implementing evidence-based strategies promoting student health. This study explores school climate factors underlying implementation of evidence-based health and wellness policies and practices in Kindergarten-8th grade programs in the Southwestern United States. Method: Utilizing a participatory research survey approach conducted in December 2011 with school health professionals ( N = 62) and a multiple regression design, a moderated predictive model of implementation climate (i.e., attitudes and beliefs about prevention, school commitment to prevention, barriers, and stakeholder collaboration) was tested. Results: Barriers to obesity prevention efforts, such as lack of resources, support, or strategy clarity, hinder implementation of healthy food policies despite strong school commitment to prevention. Along with the commitment to prevention, stakeholder collaboration predicts physical education strategies, specifically reducing restricted access to physical education as a punishment for student misconduct. Conclusion: Obesity prevention strategy implementation relies on the supportiveness and structure of school climates. Barriers to prevention can impede efforts despite school commitment toward prevention, while stakeholder collaboration can enhance the likelihood that practices are in place.
KW - Health services research
KW - Pediatric obesity
KW - Prevention and control
KW - Program evaluation
KW - School health services
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.04.008
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.04.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84930934219
SN - 2211-3355
VL - 2
SP - 347
EP - 354
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
ER -