A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program

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

doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x

A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program

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

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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

Original language	English
Article number	890
Number of pages	13
Journal	BMC Public Health
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x
Publication status	Published - 25 Mar 2024

Keywords

Community
Early childhood
Healthy eating
Movement
Parenting
Peer-led program
Playgroup
Screentime
Sleep

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Middleton, G., Johnson, B. J., Dutch, D., Trost, S. G., Byrne, R., Christian, H. E., Henry, A., Terranova, C. O., Williams, K. E., Chai, L. K., Brookes, D. S. K., Simon, K., & Golley, R. K. (2024). A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program. BMC Public Health, 24(1), Article 890. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x

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title = "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 {\textquoteleft}First Teachers{\textquoteright}. 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{\textquoteright}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",

keywords = "Community, Early childhood, Healthy eating, Movement, Parenting, Peer-led program, Playgroup, Screentime, Sleep",

author = "Georgia Middleton and Johnson, {Brittany J.} and Dimity Dutch and Trost, {Stewart G.} and Rebecca Byrne and Christian, {Hayley E.} and Anna Henry and Terranova, {Caroline O.} and Williams, {Kate E.} and Chai, {Li Kheng} and Brookes, {Denise S.K.} and Kate Simon and Golley, {Rebecca K.}",

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doi = "10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x",

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Middleton, G , Johnson, BJ , Dutch, D, Trost, SG, Byrne, R, Christian, HE, Henry, A, Terranova, CO, Williams, KE, Chai, LK, Brookes, DSK, Simon, K & Golley, RK 2024, 'A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program', BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, 890. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17703-x

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T1 - A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup

T2 - a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program

AU - Middleton, Georgia

AU - Johnson, Brittany J.

AU - Dutch, Dimity

AU - Trost, Stewart G.

AU - Byrne, Rebecca

AU - Christian, Hayley E.

AU - Henry, Anna

AU - Terranova, Caroline O.

AU - Williams, Kate E.

AU - Chai, Li Kheng

AU - Brookes, Denise S.K.

AU - Simon, Kate

AU - Golley, Rebecca K.

PY - 2024/3/25

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N2 - 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

AB - 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

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KW - Early childhood

KW - Healthy eating

KW - Movement

KW - Parenting

KW - Peer-led program

KW - Playgroup

KW - Screentime

KW - Sleep

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A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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