Background
Early Childhood Educators’ (ECEs) food-related behaviors can significantly influence child health outcomes (CHOs). The We Inspire Smart Eating (WISE) intervention program trains ECEs in promoting fruit and vegetable consumption by encouraging children's healthy eating habits. WISE provides a 6-hour training and curriculum for weekly sensory-based lessons with 8 target foods.
Objective
This study explores the association between ECE WISE fidelity and CHOs. We hypothesize that higher median fidelity scores across time are associated with improved CHOs.
Study Design, Setting, and Participants
Research assistants (RAs) observed lesson fidelity during lessons 8 times across an academic year. RAs scored ECEs on a 1 (“Not at all”) to 4 (“Very much”) scale for 3 evidence-based practices: hands-on exposure, mascot use, and role modeling. Child participants were African American 63.4%, Caucasian 28.5%, or other 8.1% (N = 659, male = 4.70, 50% female).
Measurable Outcome/Analysis
Median fidelity scores of ECEs’ lessons (N = 30) were calculated to convey fidelity performance across time. CHOs include Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile and Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (RRS) scores. Change scores (BMI∆ and RRS∆) were calculated by subtracting pre-intervention from post-intervention scores.
Results
In total, 463 children had BMI∆ and 273 had RRS∆. A linear regression revealed a significant association between fidelity and BMI∆ F(1, 462) = 5.068, P = 0.025 (β = -1.315).
Results
indicate that ECEs with higher fidelity scores had statistically significantly lower BMI∆ at post-intervention compared to ECEs with lower fidelity scores. Specifically, a 1-point increase in fidelity was associated with a 1.315 decrease in BMI. The association between fidelity and RRS was not statistically significant F(1, 272) = 0.28, P = 0.60. Multilevel analysis showed variance accounted for by nesting in classroom was not significant.
Conclusion
Children in classrooms with ECEs with higher fidelity may benefit more from the WISE intervention as indicated by BMI∆. Thus, efforts to improve ECEs’ adherence to the evidence-based practices of WISE (eg, implementation strategies) may enhance the impact of the intervention.
Funding NIH Lincoln Health Foundation.
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Copyright
© 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.
