A randomised controlled trial of an online menu planning intervention to improve childcare service adherence to dietary guidelines: a study protocol

Yoong, Sze Lin; Grady, Alice; Wiggers, John; Flood, Victoria M; Rissel, Chris; Finch, Meghan; Searles, Andrew; Salajan, David; O’Rourke, Ruby; Daly, J.M.; Gilham, Karen; Stacey, Fiona; Fielding, Alison; Pond, Nicole; Wyse, Rebecca; Seward, Kirsty; Wolfenden, Luke

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017498

Cited by 30 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…The Caring for Children guidelines also explicitly recommend that services do not provide “discretionary foods” (foods that are energy‐dense foods, high in fat, sodium and sugar) on their menu. In line with previous studies, menus containing such foods were deemed non‐compliant.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 67%

Menu planning practices in early childhood education and care – factors associated with menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines

Grady

Stacey

Seward

et al. 2019

Health Prom J of Aust

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Issue addressed: Despite recommendations, early childhood education and care services do not plan menus in accordance with sector dietary guidelines. This study aimed to examine the following among Australian long day care services: (a) menu planning practices; (b) prevalence of menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines;and (c) menu planning practices associated with higher menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines.Methods: Long day care services within Hunter New England, NSW participated in a pen and paper survey assessing menu planning practices and socio-demographic and service characteristics. Two-week menus were assessed for compliance with sector dietary guidelines, based on the number of servings of food groups and discretionary foods provided per child, per day. Results:Staff from 72 services completed the survey and 69 provided their menu.Results indicated the service cook was fully responsible for planning the menu in 43% of services, and 57% had received written support to assist with menu planning. Service menus were compliant with an average of 0.68 out of six food groups and discretionary foods. In poisson regression models, a shorter menu cycle length (P = .04) and the receipt of training opportunities to support menu planning (P < .01) were significantly associated with higher menu compliance. Conclusions: Menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines is low among participating long day care services. So what? The implementation of practices such as shortening of the menu cycle and the provision of training opportunities may assist in the planning of menus that are more compliant with dietary guidelines in this setting. K E Y W O R D S childcare, diet, guidelines, menu, nutrition | 217 GRADY et Al. How to cite this article: Grady A, Stacey F, Seward K, Finch M, Jones J, Yoong SL. Menu planning practices in early childhood education and care -factors associated with menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines. Health Promot J Austral. 2020;31:216-223. https ://doi.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 67%

Menu planning practices in early childhood education and care – factors associated with menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines

Grady

Stacey

Seward

et al. 2019

Health Prom J of Aust

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“…A nonrandomised controlled trial was conducted with long day care services across Australia. Services in the intervention were located in New South Wales (NSW) and part of a separate randomised controlled trial aimed at improving implementation of dietary guidelines via the online menu planning program . Services in the intervention arm completed additional outcome measure assessments and received $100 voucher for their time allocated to data collection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Daily and fortnightly feedback reports of menu compliance were also generated, with prompts and reminders to use the program displayed to staff within the dashboard of the CCMS linked website. Details regarding the theoretical underpinnings and development of the online program are reported elsewhere …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of a dissemination strategy on the uptake of an online menu planning program: A controlled trial

Grady

Wolfenden

Rissel

et al. 2018

Health Prom J of Aust

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Issue addressed Online systems offer opportunities to provide effective, ongoing support to childcare services to implement dietary guidelines. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a dissemination strategy on childcare service: (i) adoption; and (ii) use of an online menu planning program designed to increase compliance with dietary guidelines. Methods A nonrandomised controlled trial was conducted with long day care services across Australia. All services received an email invitation to access an online evidence‐based menu planning program. Services in the intervention also received training, telephone contact and provision of a portable computer tablet to encourage program adoption and use. Outcomes were assessed at the 6‐month follow‐up using analytics data recorded by the online program. Outcomes included the proportion of services having accessed the program (adoption) and the proportion of services with a current menu entered in the program (use as intended). Results Twenty‐seven interventions and 19 control services took part. At the 6‐month follow‐up, 100% vs 58% of services had adopted the online menu planning program (OR: 14.67, 95% CI: 2.43‐infinity; P < 0.01) and 41% vs 5% of services had a current menu entered in the program (OR: 9.99, 95% CI: 1.01‐534.57; P < 0.01) in the intervention and control arms respectively. Conclusions This study highlights the need for strategies to support adoption and use of an online menu planning program in childcare services if the potential benefits of such a program are to be achieved. Future research should explore the effectiveness of differing strategies to increase adoption and use of online programs at scale. So what? Strategies to support childcare service uptake and use of online programs are required in order for the potential public health benefits of such technologies to be realised.

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“…The study was a single-blinded parallel group randomised controlled trial undertaken with childcare centres within New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Details of the trial protocol have been published elsewhere (32). In summary, the sample of 54 centres was drawn from a pool of 252 long day care centres in NSW that both provided food to children in care and were current clients of a single speci c childcare management software (CCMS) provider.…”

Section: Trial Design Setting and Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

Economic evaluation of a web-based menu planning intervention to improve childcare service adherence with dietary guidelines.

Reeves

Edmunds

Szewczyk

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Abstract Background Despite the known benefits of healthy eating in childhood, few Australian childcare services provide food that is consistent with dietary guidelines. The effectiveness of a web-based menu planning intervention to increase childcare service provision of healthy foods, and decrease provision of discretionary foods in long daycare centres in Australia was assessed in a randomised controlled trial. Here we consider the costs, consequences, cost-effectiveness and budget impact of the intervention using data collected within the trial. Methods The prospective trial-based economic evaluation involved 54 childcare services across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Services were randomised to a 12-month intervention or usual care. The intervention involved access to a web-based menu planning and decision support tool, and online resources. Effectiveness measures included: mean number of food groups, overall menu and individual food group compliance with dietary guidelines, and mean servings of food groups at 12 months. Costs (reported in $AUD, 2017/18) were evaluated from both health sector and societal perspectives. The direct cost to support uptake of the intervention was calculated, as were costs to each childcare centres. The incremental cost of the intervention was calculated as the net difference in the cost to undertake menu planning and review plus the direct cost of the intervention. Incremental cost–effectiveness ratios (ICERs) including uncertainty intervals, were estimated for differences in costs and effects between intervention and control groups. A relative value index was calculated to determine overall value for money. Results Over the 12 months of the trial, we calculated a difference in cost between usual practice and intervention groups of -$482 (95% UI -$859, -$56). While the measured increase in menu and food group compliance within the trial did not reach statistical significance, there were significant improvements in mean servings of fruit and discretionary food, represented in the cost-consequence analysis. The calculated relative value index of 1.1 suggests that the intervention returns acceptable value for money for the outcomes generated. Conclusion Compared to usual practice, web-based programs may offer an efficient and sustainable alternative for childcare centres to improve the provision of healthy foods to children in their care. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000974404

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A randomised controlled trial of an online menu planning intervention to improve childcare service adherence to dietary guidelines: a study protocol

Cited by 30 publications

References 56 publications

Menu planning practices in early childhood education and care – factors associated with menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines

Menu planning practices in early childhood education and care – factors associated with menu compliance with sector dietary guidelines

Effectiveness of a dissemination strategy on the uptake of an online menu planning program: A controlled trial

Economic evaluation of a web-based menu planning intervention to improve childcare service adherence with dietary guidelines.

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