Using the RE-AIM Framework to Evaluate the Feasibility of a Parent-Focused Pilot Intervention Targeting Childhood Obesity
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity is a major public health concern. Community-based childhood obesity treatment interventions have the potential to improve health behaviours and outcomes, but require effective evaluation to facilitate translation of research into practice. The purpose of the current study was to determine the feasibility of a parent-focused pilot intervention (“C.H.A.M.P. Families”) targeting childhood obesity using the RE-AIM framework, an evaluation tool for community-based health interventions.
Methods: A single-centre, single-group, non-randomized, repeated measure feasibility study was conducted over the course of 10 months. Participants (n = 16 parents/caregivers representing 11 children with obesity) completed a 13-week parent-focused education intervention. The five dimensions of RE-AIM—reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance—were assessed using various measures and data sources.
Results: Overall, C.H.A.M.P. Families had high reach in terms of participant representativeness and participation. Preliminary evidence also suggests that involvement in the program may be associated with improved health-related quality of life among children (i.e., effectiveness/individual-level maintenance). In addition, a number of community partnerships (n = 3) were established and maintained (adoption/setting-level maintenance). Finally, the intervention had high fidelity to protocol, attendance rates, and cost-effectiveness (implementation).
Conclusions: Based on RE-AIM evaluation, the parent-focused C.H.A.M.P. Families intervention appears to be a promising approach to the treatment of childhood obesity.