Rationale, Design, and Methods for Process Evaluation in the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 47; no. 6; pp. 560 - 565.e1
• Main Authors: Joseph, Sitara, MPH, Stevens, Andria M., MPH, Ledoux, Tracey, PhD, RD, O'Connor, Teresia M., MD, MPH, O'Connor, Daniel P., PhD, Thompson, Debbe, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; childhood obesity; Children & youth; Demonstration Programs; dose; fidelity; Formative Evaluation; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Health care; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Internal Medicine; Intervention; Medical research; methods; Obesity; Outcome Measures; Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control; process evaluation; Program Evaluation - methods; Public health; reach; Research Design; United States; United States; United States > US; process evaluation; dose; fidelity; methods; reach; childhood obesity
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.07.002

Abstract Objective The cross-site process evaluation plan for the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) project is described here. Design The CORD project comprises 3 unique demonstration projects designed to integrate multi-level, multi-setting health care and public health interventions over a 4-year funding period. Setting Three different communities in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. Participants All CORD demonstration projects targeted 2–12-year-old children whose families are eligible for benefits under Title XXI (CHIP) or Title XIX (Medicaid). Intervention(s) The CORD projects were developed independently and consisted of evidence-based interventions that aim to prevent childhood obesity. The interventions promote healthy behaviors in children by applying strategies in 4 key settings (primary care clinics, early care and education centers, public schools, and community institutions). Main Outcome Measure(s) The CORD process evaluation outlined 3 main outcome measures: reach, dose, and fidelity, on 2 levels (researcher to provider, and provider to participant). Analysis The plan described here provides insight into the complex nature of process evaluation for consortia of independently designed multi-level, multi-setting intervention studies. The process evaluation results will provide contextual information about intervention implementation and delivery with which to interpret other aspects of the program.