A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program
Abstract Background The early years is a critical stage to establish optimal nutrition and movement behaviours. Community playgroups are a relaxed environment for parents with a focus on social connection and supporting parents in their role as ‘First Teachers’. Playgroups are therefore an opportuni...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x |
| _version_ | 1797233204759887872 |
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| author | Georgia Middleton Brittany J. Johnson Dimity Dutch Stewart G. Trost Rebecca Byrne Hayley E. Christian Anna Henry Caroline O. Terranova Kate E. Williams Li Kheng Chai Denise S. K. Brookes Kate Simon Rebecca K. Golley |
| author_facet | Georgia Middleton Brittany J. Johnson Dimity Dutch Stewart G. Trost Rebecca Byrne Hayley E. Christian Anna Henry Caroline O. Terranova Kate E. Williams Li Kheng Chai Denise S. K. Brookes Kate Simon Rebecca K. Golley |
| author_sort | Georgia Middleton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The early years is a critical stage to establish optimal nutrition and movement behaviours. Community playgroups are a relaxed environment for parents with a focus on social connection and supporting parents in their role as ‘First Teachers’. Playgroups are therefore an opportunistic setting to promote health behaviours in the early years. To support parents with young children around healthy lifestyle behaviours, the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was delivered in urban and regional areas, across three Australian jurisdictions between 2021–2023. Objective This qualitative evaluation aimed to understand how the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was experienced by parents, playgroup coordinators and peer facilitators. Design Semi-structured virtual interviews and focus groups were conducted with parents, playgroup coordinators (i.e., person responsible for coordinating the playgroup) and peer facilitators (i.e., trained facilitator for the program) that participated in the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup study. Transcripts were analysed following a thematic analysis approach. Results Twenty-eight playgroup parents, coordinators or peer facilitators participated in one of 8 focus groups or 5 interviews. Four themes were developed: Program strengths and challenges; Setting strengths and challenges; Factors that impact program delivery; Participant’s suggestions for future program delivery. Conclusions The Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was valued by parents, providing validation and normalisation of parenting practices, and fostering a shared experience of parenting. Playgroups are a convenient setting for families to attend. The dynamic and distracting nature of the playgroup setting were carefully considered when designing the program. Strategies to further enhance program engagement could include use of coordinator or parent champions, tailored delivery, and extending the reach to other family members. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000055808, registered 22 January 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380890 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:12:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b33b7411ef4e44d196ee3e21bedb5ef6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:12:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b33b7411ef4e44d196ee3e21bedb5ef62024-03-31T11:37:54ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-03-0124111310.1186/s12889-024-17703-xA great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup programGeorgia Middleton0Brittany J. Johnson1Dimity Dutch2Stewart G. Trost3Rebecca Byrne4Hayley E. Christian5Anna Henry6Caroline O. Terranova7Kate E. Williams8Li Kheng Chai9Denise S. K. Brookes10Kate Simon11Rebecca K. Golley12Flinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Caring Futures InstituteFlinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Caring Futures InstituteFlinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Caring Futures InstituteSchool of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of TechnologyTelethon Kids Institute, The University of Western AustraliaTelethon Kids Institute, The University of Western AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of TechnologyCentre for Child and Family Studies, School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, Queensland University of TechnologyFaculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of TechnologyFaculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of TechnologyFaculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of TechnologyFlinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Caring Futures InstituteAbstract Background The early years is a critical stage to establish optimal nutrition and movement behaviours. Community playgroups are a relaxed environment for parents with a focus on social connection and supporting parents in their role as ‘First Teachers’. Playgroups are therefore an opportunistic setting to promote health behaviours in the early years. To support parents with young children around healthy lifestyle behaviours, the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was delivered in urban and regional areas, across three Australian jurisdictions between 2021–2023. Objective This qualitative evaluation aimed to understand how the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was experienced by parents, playgroup coordinators and peer facilitators. Design Semi-structured virtual interviews and focus groups were conducted with parents, playgroup coordinators (i.e., person responsible for coordinating the playgroup) and peer facilitators (i.e., trained facilitator for the program) that participated in the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup study. Transcripts were analysed following a thematic analysis approach. Results Twenty-eight playgroup parents, coordinators or peer facilitators participated in one of 8 focus groups or 5 interviews. Four themes were developed: Program strengths and challenges; Setting strengths and challenges; Factors that impact program delivery; Participant’s suggestions for future program delivery. Conclusions The Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was valued by parents, providing validation and normalisation of parenting practices, and fostering a shared experience of parenting. Playgroups are a convenient setting for families to attend. The dynamic and distracting nature of the playgroup setting were carefully considered when designing the program. Strategies to further enhance program engagement could include use of coordinator or parent champions, tailored delivery, and extending the reach to other family members. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000055808, registered 22 January 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380890https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17703-xEarly childhoodCommunityParentingPeer-led programHealthy eatingMovement |
| spellingShingle | Georgia Middleton Brittany J. Johnson Dimity Dutch Stewart G. Trost Rebecca Byrne Hayley E. Christian Anna Henry Caroline O. Terranova Kate E. Williams Li Kheng Chai Denise S. K. Brookes Kate Simon Rebecca K. Golley A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program BMC Public Health Early childhood Community Parenting Peer-led program Healthy eating Movement |
| title | A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program |
| title_full | A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program |
| title_fullStr | A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program |
| title_full_unstemmed | A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program |
| title_short | A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program |
| title_sort | great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup a qualitative evaluation of the healthy conversations playgroup program |
| topic | Early childhood Community Parenting Peer-led program Healthy eating Movement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x |
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