A Digital Intervention to Promote Preschool Nutrition and Activity: The eHEROs Study
ConditionHealth Behavior
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorCornell University
About this trial
The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Know-How program, a 10-week digital intervention for families of young children promoting healthy eating and activity behaviors and environments.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Participants must have a preschool-aged child (3-5 years) with no disabilities or conditions that impact typical eating and activity behaviors.
Adult participants must have access to a smartphone, reliable internet at home, and can make video calls.
Disqualifiers
Adults who do not have a child aged 3-5 or child has a disability/condition that impact typical eating and activity behaviors.
Technology access is limited.
Adults who read, write or speak a language other than English.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
KnowHow Program
BehavioralThe KnowHow intervention is a 10-week program that provides parent education on the topics of mindful parenting, healthy eating, and physical literacy. The intervention consists of three components: 1) a custom mobile application (app), 2) virtual group discussions, and 3) child-centered support materials mailed to participating families. (1) The KnowHow app will provide parent education using a variety of modalities The 'know' will provide parents with the core information on mindful parenting, healthy eating, and physical literacy, and the 'how' will give strategies to incorporate the information into daily routines and activities. To facilitate the transition from the 'know' to 'how', the app will have a 'Kid Zone' with content to engage in activities with the preschooler. KnowHow app content will be divided into five modules that include A) lessons (text, audio, video), B) activities, and C) assessments. (2) During the 10-week intervention, participants will also meet via Zoom for
Treatment groups
60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: KnowHow ProgramExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Wait ListNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Recruitment
Number of completed interest forms resulting in enrollment.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0)2
Retention
Proportion of intervention activities (e.g., app modules and assessments) completed.
Time frame
10 weeks3
Usability
Mean scores using the System Usability Scale (SUS) to estimate ease of use, complexity, confidence in using, and likelihood of use (scale 0-5, with higher scores indicating higher rankings of usability)
Time frame
Post-Intervention (week10)4
Acceptability
Mean ratings of information helpfulness, goal setting, liking of the program, willingness to recommend, and desire for additional information (scale 0-5, with higher scores indicating higher acceptibility)
Time frame
10 weeksSecondary outcomes
1
Mindful Parenting
Mean scores using the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting survey (I-MP) will assess five constructs of mindful parenting: parent/caregiver listening with full attention, emotional awareness of self and child, self-regulation, compassion of self and child, non-judgmental acceptance of self and child). Scale, 0-5, with higher scores indicating higher mindful parenting.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intevention (week 10)2
Parent-Child Feeding Practices
Mean scores from the Food Parenting Inventory (FPI) will assess Autonomy (encourages exploration of new foods, offers new foods, repeatedly presents new foods) and Control (pressure to eat, food as reward). Scale, 0-5, with higher scores indicating more positive child feeding practices.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)3
Physical Activity Parenting Practices
Mean scores from teh PA Parenting Practices (PAPP) will assess three parenting domains: Structure (nondirective support, supportive expectation, restriction of physical activity inside), Autonomy (autonomy support, guided choice), and Control (coercive control). Scale, 0-5, with higher scores indicating more positive PA practices.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)4
Perceived Parenting Self-Efficacy
Mean scores of questions adapted from the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scales and will assess the offering of healthy foods, providing physical activity opportunities for their child, and engaging in positive interactions with their child related to healthy eating, physical activity, and modifying the home environment. Scale, 0-5, with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)Other outcomes
1
Child Meal Quality (exploratory)
Measured via food photography, meal quality will be assessed using Healthy Meal Index adequacy score (mean of 3 meals, range 0-55).
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)2
Child Meal Quantity (exploratory)
Measured via food photography, meal quantity will be determined by visual estimation of serving sizes (e.g., 1/4 c.)
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)3
Child's Dietary Intake (exploratory)
Mean scores of children's consumption of foods will be collected using the Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ). Quantitative estimates of food and nutrient intake (e.g., cups of fruit, vegetables and ounce equivalents of whole grains). These quantitative estimates will be compared to recommended serving sizes from the Dietary Guidelines of Americans to determine if consumption of food groups is meeting, above or below guidelines.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)4
Child Fundamental movement skill performance (exploratory)
Mean scores for objective control and locomotor skills will be assessed using Test for Gross Motor Development, 2nd Ed (TGMD-2) scoring protocol. Each skill is scored on a scale of 0-1 with subscale ranges of 0-6 for locomotor skills and 0-5 for object control skills.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and Post-Intervention (week 10)Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Cornell University
Lead sponsor
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Collaborator
University of Colorado, Denver
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov