A Digital Intervention to Promote Preschool Nutrition and Activity: The eHEROs Study

Cornell University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Health Behavior

Treatments: Behavioral: KnowHow Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT07224412

IRB0010703

2021-68015-34557 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Know-How program, a 10-week digital intervention for families of young children promoting healthy eating and activity behaviors and environments.

Full description

The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the KnowHow program, a 10-week digital intervention for families of young children promoting healthy eating and activity behaviors and environments. The KnowHow program, which provides parent education on the topics of mindful parenting, healthy eating, and physical literacy, consists of three components: 1) a custom mobile application (app), 2) virtual group discussions, and 3) child-centered support materials mailed to participating families. The study will include an intervention group and a delayed control group. Feasibility of the digital intervention will be assessed at post-test only by recruitment, retention, usability, and acceptability. Implementation outcomes include measures of digital engagement, enactment, and intention to sustain, and will be collected at post-test only. Theoretical mediators include parent self-efficacy and behavioral capability and will be collected pre- and post-test. Behavioral outcomes, also collected at pre- and post-test, include mindful parenting, parent-child feeding practices, and physical activity parenting practices. Study assessments for the theoretical mediators and behavioral outcomes will be collected at Baseline (Time 1, pre-intervention) and at Post-Test (Time 2, post-intervention) at the same time for both groups. No additional assessments will be collected for the delayed control group at the conclusion of implementation.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must have a preschool-aged child (3-5 years) with no disabilities or conditions that impact typical eating and activity behaviors.
• Adult participants must have access to a smartphone, reliable internet at home, and can make video calls.

Exclusion criteria

• Adults who do not have a child aged 3-5 or child has a disability/condition that impact typical eating and activity behaviors.
• Technology access is limited.
• Adults who read, write or speak a language other than English.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

KnowHow Program

Experimental group

Description:

Families will participate in the 10-week KnowHow program and will receive/participate in 1) a custom mobile application (app), 2) virtual group discussions, and 3) child-centered support materials

Treatment:

Behavioral: KnowHow Program

Wait List

No Intervention group

Description:

Families will not receive any intervention during the 10-week study. Families will receive access to the KnowHow app only for 10 weeks at the conclusion of the study.