Cluster randomised controlled trial and economic and process evaluation to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a novel intervention [Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP)] to prevent obesity in school children

Abstract

Dean SG, Hillsdon M, et al. Cluster randomised controlled trial and economic and process evaluation to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a novel intervention [Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP)] to prevent obesity in school children. Public Health Res 2018;6(1). This journal is a member of and subscribes to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (www.publicationethics.org/). Public Health ResearchEditorial contact: journals.library@nihr.ac.ukThe full PHR archive is freely available to view online at www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr. Print-on-demand copies can be purchased from the report pages of the NIHR Journals Library website: www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk Criteria for inclusion in the Public Health Research journalReports are published in Public Health Research (PHR) if (1) they have resulted from work for the PHR programme, and (2) they are of a sufficiently high scientific quality as assessed by the reviewers and editors.Reviews in Public Health Research are termed 'systematic' when the account of the search appraisal and synthesis methods (to minimise biases and random errors) would, in theory, permit the replication of the review by others. PHR programmeThe Public Health Research (PHR) programme, part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), evaluates public health interventions, providing new knowledge on the benefits, costs, acceptability and wider impacts of non-NHS interventions intended to improve the health of the public and reduce inequalities in health. The scope of the programme is multi-disciplinary and broad, covering a range of interventions that improve public health. The Public Health Research programme also complements the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme which has a growing portfolio evaluating NHS public health interventions.For more information about the PHR programme please visit the website: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/phr This reportThe research reported in this issue of the journal was funded by the PHR programme as project number 10/3010/01. The contractual start date was in March 2012. The final report began editorial review in November 2016 and was accepted for publication in February 2017. The authors have been wholly responsible for all data collection, analysis and interpretation, and for writing up their work. The PHR editors and production house have tried to ensure the accuracy of the authors' report and would like to thank the reviewers for their constructive comments on the final report document. However, they do not accept liability for damages or losses arising from material published in this report.This report presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NHS, the NIHR, NETSCC, the PHR programme or the Department of Health. If there are verbatim quotations included in this publication the views and opinions express...

Methods for the economic evaluation of obesity prevention dietary interventions in children: A systematic review and critical appraisal of the evidence

“…Eight economic studies were solely based on diet and nutrition interventions, 31,32,34,38–42 and 15 were nutrition and physical activity based 31,32,35,37,43–53 . The majority of interventions were compared to a usual practice or “do nothing” scenario 31,32,34,36,37,39,42,43,45–47,49–51,53–56 . One intervention was compared to a control condition where the control school was given money to purchase school equipment, 35 and four interventions were compared to usual practice with delayed intervention exposure (e.g., waiting list) 38,44,48,57 .…”

“…Discussion of non‐intervention costs are discussed further below. Nineteen studies reported an estimate of staff salaries to implement the intervention, training delivery or training receipt 34,37,38,40–42,44–48,50–57 . Nineteen studies included costs of intervention material and material maintenance (where applicable) 31,34,37–43,45,48,50–57 .…”

“…(−) Costs were calculated by weight status/BMI category as opposed to BMI unit, which may overlook cost inclusions 31,37,39,40,47,49,55,56 a…”

Physical activity patterns associated with a pedagogical intervention in six to eight year old children in an urban school

“…Although recent studies show no effects on physical activity evaluated with accelerometers in children (Lawlor, El Anderson, Ld Howe, & Moure-Fernandez et al, 2016;Wyatt, Creanor, Green, & Hillsdon et al, 2018), based on the information obtained in this study, which was targeted to six to eight year old children, and included more class activities and intensive family and community interventions, the authors designed and are currently planning a cluster randomized controlled trial. This trial will take into account other variables that may explain the effect on AEE and the time spent in different intensities of physical activity, such as age, sex, nutritional status, school policies, and changes in the physical activity habits of children´s parents and teachers.…”

Exploring the feasibility of a cluster randomised control trial to improve children’s 24 hour movement behaviours and dietary intake: Happy Homework.

“…Furthermore, low levels of PA, high levels of ST, and short sleep durations are all associated with increased food intake and poor diet quality in children (Beaulieu et al, 2016;Chaput and Dutil, 2016;Thivel et al, 2019), with poor diet being a key driver of childhood obesity (Faught et al, 2016). Therefore, future school-based interventions should consider a multidimensional intervention strategy (e.g., PA, sleep, and diet) across settings (e.g., school and home) to achieve sustained effects across the whole day (Love et al, 2018;Wyatt et al, 2018).…”