The protocol of a randomized controlled trial for playgroup mothers: Reminder on Food, Relaxation, Exercise, and Support for Health (REFRESH) Program
Sarojini M. D.R. Monteiro, Jonine Jancey, Peter Howat, Sharyn Burns, Carlie Jones, Satvinder S Dhaliwal, Alexandra McManus, Andrew P Hills and Annie S. Anderson
Background: Mother's physical activity levels are relatively low, while their energy consumption is generally high resulting in 58% of Australian women over the age of 18 years being overweight or obese. This study aims to confirm if a low-cost, accessible playgroup based intervention program can improve the dietary and physical activity behaviours of mothers with young children.
Methods/Design: The current study is a randomized controlled trial lifestyle (nutrition and physical activity) intervention for mothers with children aged between 0 to 5 years attending playgroups in Perth, Western Australia. Nine-hundred participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 450) and control (n = 450) groups. The study is based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), and the Precede-Proceed Framework incorporating goal setting, motivational interviewing, social support and self-efficacy. The six month intervention will include multiple strategies and resources to ensure the engagement and retention of participants. The main strategy is home based and will include a specially designed booklet with dietary and physical activity information, a muscle strength and flexibility exercise chart, a nutrition label reading shopping list and menu planner. The home based strategy will be supported by face-to-face dietary and physical activity workshops in the playgroup setting, posted and emailed bimonthly newsletters, and monthly Short Message Service (SMS) reminders via mobile phones. Participants in the control group receive no intervention materials. Outcome measures will be assessed using data that will be collected at baseline, six months and 12 months from participants in the control and intervention groups.
Discussion: This trial will add to the evidence base on the recruitment, retention and the impact of community
based dietary and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children.
Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12609000735257
Details
Title
The protocol of a randomized controlled trial for playgroup mothers: Reminder on Food, Relaxation, Exercise, and Support for Health (REFRESH) Program
Creators
Sarojini M. D.R. Monteiro - Curtin University
Jonine Jancey - Curtin University
Peter Howat - Curtin University
Sharyn Burns - Curtin University
Carlie Jones - Curtin University
Satvinder S Dhaliwal - Curtin University
Alexandra McManus - Curtin University
Andrew P Hills - Griffith University (Australia)
Annie S. Anderson - University of Dundee
Publication Details
BMC public health, Vol.11(1), pp.1-8
Publisher
BioMed Central
Grant note
This study is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant.