Intervention fidelity within trials of infant feeding behavioural interventions to prevent childhood obesity: a systematic review
Citation:
Toomey E, Matvienko-Sikar K, Heary C, Delaney L, Queally M, Hayes CB, Kearney PM, Byrne M, on behalf of the Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) study team., Intervention fidelity within trials of infant feeding behavioural interventions to prevent childhood obesity: a systematic review, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 53, 1, 2019, 75 - 97Abstract:
Background: Intervention fidelity refers to whether an intervention has been implemented as intended. Trials of infant feeding behavioral interventions to prevent childhood obesity show inconsistent evidence of effectiveness. However, intervention fidelity has not been previously explored within these trials, limiting interpretation of findings.
Purpose: To review the use and/or reporting of strategies to enhance and assess intervention fidelity within trials of infant feeding interventions to prevent childhood obesity, and their association with study quality, effectiveness, and publication year.
Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched, with articles screened for inclusion by two reviewers. The National Institutes of Health Behaviour Change Consortium fidelity checklist was used to assess use and/or reporting of fidelity strategies across five domains (design, provider training, delivery, receipt, and enactment).
Results: Ten trials (16 papers) were identified. Average use/reporting of fidelity strategies was moderate (54%), ranging from 28.9% to 76.7%. Levels of use/reporting ranged from 15.9% in the domain of provider training to 95% for enactment. No association was found between these levels and study quality, effectiveness, or publication year.
Conclusions: The moderate use/reporting of fidelity strategies within trials of infant feeding interventions suggests that previous findings of inconsistent effectiveness may not fully reflect the intended interventions. The review highlights key considerations for improving future research, both in the area of behavioral infant feeding and wider behavior change literature. This includes improving reporting across all fidelity domains and ensuring an enhanced focus on provider training and control group content to optimize the translation of research into practice. Background: Intervention fidelity refers to whether an intervention has been implemented as intended. Trials of infant feeding behavioral interventions to prevent childhood obesity show inconsistent evidence of effectiveness. However, intervention fidelity has not been previously explored within these trials, limiting interpretation of findings.
Purpose: To review the use and/or reporting of strategies to enhance and assess intervention fidelity within trials of infant feeding interventions to prevent childhood obesity, and their association with study quality, effectiveness, and publication year.
Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched, with articles screened for inclusion by two reviewers. The National Institutes of Health Behaviour Change Consortium fidelity checklist was used to assess use and/or reporting of fidelity strategies across five domains (design, provider training, delivery, receipt, and enactment).
Results: Ten trials (16 papers) were identified. Average use/reporting of fidelity strategies was moderate (54%), ranging from 28.9% to 76.7%. Levels of use/reporting ranged from 15.9% in the domain of provider training to 95% for enactment. No association was found between these levels and study quality, effectiveness, or publication year.
Conclusions: The moderate use/reporting of fidelity strategies within trials of infant feeding interventions suggests that previous findings of inconsistent effectiveness may not fully reflect the intended interventions. The review highlights key considerations for improving future research, both in the area of behavioral infant feeding and wider behavior change literature. This includes improving reporting across all fidelity domains and ensuring an enhanced focus on provider training and control group content to optimize the translation of research into practice.
Prospero registration number: CRD42016033492.
Sponsor
Grant Number
Health Research Board (HRB)
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/hayesc9Description:
PUBLISHED
Author: Hayes, Catherine
Type of material:
Journal ArticleSeries/Report no:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine53
1
Availability:
Full text availableSubject (TCD):
Inclusive Society , Making Ireland , Health attitudes and behaviour , Health status and inequalities , PAEDIATRICS , Primary care , Public healthDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/abm/kay021Handle:
http://hdl.handle.net/2262/97610Metadata
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