Objective
The purpose of this study was to use a process evaluation framework to evaluate a diabetes prevention intervention for 9-12-year-old children, and to assess its potential for future adoption, implementation, and maintenance by the YMCA.
Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention
EPIC Kids is a 12-week randomized family-focused lifestyle intervention for 9-12-year-old children at risk of diabetes. The primary outcome is change in percent overweight. Potential public health impact was guided by the RE-AIM framework, wherein program reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance data were collected from YMCA administrators (n=4), lifestyle coaches (n=12) and participants (n=47 families) using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Outcome Measures and Analysis
Reach was evaluated using eligible versus participation rates. Preliminary efficacy was determined by changes in anthropometric measures, and potential adoption determined by YMCA administrator interviews. Implementation was assessed through researcher observation, attendance data, and YMCA lifestyle coach surveys. Preliminary maintenance was assessed with YMCA membership use data.
Results
Forty-five families out of 128 screened were eligible, 28 enrolled. Twenty families completed 12-week measures. There was no significant percent change in overweight at 12 weeks. Participants expressed high program satisfaction, with 88% rating weekly activities as enjoyable and 75% highly likely to adopt changes. Weekly attendance was 64%, program sessions were implemented as planned; 29% of participants used memberships at least once per week, with 75% indicating high likelihood for continued use.
Conclusions and Implications
Preliminary evaluation of EPIC Kids using RE-AIM suggested a moderate to high potential for public health impact, and provided direction for scaling and replication of the program in a community setting.
Funding
NIH
Article info
Publication history
P100
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.
