Development and evaluation of an online tool for management of overweight children in primary care: a pilot study

Min Hae Park; Áine Skow; Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja; Anna Lucas; Hayley Syrad; Ulla Sovio; Billy White; Anthony S Kessel; Barry Taylor; Sonia Saxena; Russell M Viner; Sanjay Kinra

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007326

Development and evaluation of an online tool for management of overweight children in primary care: a pilot study

BMJ Open. 2015 Jun 12;5(6):e007326. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007326.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
² Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
³ Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing, School of Psychology, London Metropolitan University, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
⁶ UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
⁷ Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
⁸ Department of Women's & Children's Health, Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁹ Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the acceptability of implementing an online tool for the assessment and management of childhood obesity (Computer-Assisted Treatment of CHildren, CATCH) in primary care.

Design and setting: An uncontrolled pilot study with integral process evaluation conducted at three general practices in northwest London, UK (November 2012-April 2013).

Participants: Families with concerns about excess weight in a child aged 5-18 years (n=14 children).

Intervention: Families had a consultation with a doctor or nurse using CATCH, which assessed child weight status, cardiometabolic risk and risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties and provided personalised lifestyle advice. Families and practitioners completed questionnaires to assess the acceptability and usefulness of the consultation, and participated in semistructured interviews which explored user experiences.

Outcome measures: The primary outcome was family satisfaction with the tool-assisted consultation. Secondary outcomes were practitioners' satisfaction, and acceptability and usefulness of the intervention to families and practitioners.

Results: The majority of families (86%, n=12) and all practitioners (n=4) were satisfied with the consultation. Participants reported that the tool was easy to use, the personalised lifestyle advice useful and the use of visual aids beneficial. Families and practitioners identified a need for practical, structured support for weight management following the consultation.

Conclusions: The results of this pilot study indicate that an online tool for assessment and management of childhood obesity can be implemented in primary care, and is acceptable to patients, families and practitioners. Further development and evaluation of the tool is warranted.

Keywords: Childhood obesity; Family practice; General practice; Lifestyle behaviours; Online tool.

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Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Internet*
Interviews as Topic
Life Style
London
Male
Overweight / therapy
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Patient Satisfaction
Pediatric Obesity / therapy*
Pilot Projects
Primary Health Care*
Program Evaluation / methods*
Referral and Consultation*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding