Optimizing Implementation of Obesity Prevention Programs: A Qualitative Investigation Within a Large-Scale Randomized Controlled Trial

Samantha L Kozica; Helena J Teede; Cheryce L Harrison; Ruth Klein; Catherine B Lombard

doi:10.1111/jrh.12133

Optimizing Implementation of Obesity Prevention Programs: A Qualitative Investigation Within a Large-Scale Randomized Controlled Trial

J Rural Health. 2016 Winter;32(1):72-81. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12133. Epub 2015 Aug 6.

Authors

Samantha L Kozica¹, Helena J Teede^{1

2}, Cheryce L Harrison¹, Ruth Klein³, Catherine B Lombard¹

Affiliations

¹ Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
² Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 26249333
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12133

Abstract

Purpose: The prevalence of obesity in rural and remote areas is elevated in comparison to urban populations, highlighting the need for interventions targeting obesity prevention in these settings. Implementing evidence-based obesity prevention programs is challenging. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the implementation of obesity prevention programs, including adoption, program delivery, community uptake, and continuation, specifically within rural settings.

Methods: Nested within a large-scale randomized controlled trial, a qualitative exploratory approach was adopted, with purposive sampling techniques utilized, to recruit stakeholders from 41 small rural towns in Australia. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with clinical health professionals, health service managers, and local government employees. Open coding was completed independently by 2 investigators and thematic analysis undertaken.

Findings: In-depth interviews revealed that obesity prevention programs were valued by the rural workforce. Program implementation is influenced by interrelated factors across: (1) contextual factors and (2) organizational capacity. Key recommendations to manage the challenges of implementing evidence-based programs focused on reducing program delivery costs, aided by the provision of a suite of implementation and evaluation resources. Informing the scale-up of future prevention programs, stakeholders highlighted the need to build local rural capacity through developing supportive university partnerships, generating local program ownership and promoting active feedback to all program partners.

Conclusion: We demonstrate that the rural workforce places a high value on obesity prevention programs. Our results inform the future scale-up of obesity prevention programs, providing an improved understanding of strategies to optimize implementation of evidence-based prevention programs.

Keywords: evaluation; implementation; obesity prevention; qualitative research; stakeholders.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Counseling / organization & administration
Female
Health Education / organization & administration*
Health Promotion / methods*
Humans
Male
Obesity / epidemiology*
Obesity / prevention & control*
Program Evaluation
Rural Health Services / organization & administration*
Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Associated data

ANZCTR/ACTRN12612000115831