South Texas Early Prevention Studies PreK (STEPSPreK)

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Childhood Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: STEPS-PreK

Study type: Interventional

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

Identifiers

NCT05501392

STEPS

Details and patient eligibility

About

The South Texas Early Prevention Study-Prekindergarten (STEPS-PreK4) was a cluster randomized trial (CRT) of preschool children 4 years of age to test the effect of the Bienestar/NEEMA Coordinated School Health Program (BN CSHP) on childhood obesity prevalence prevention.

Full description

The STEPS-PreK4 was a CRT where preschools, embedded within elementary schools, were the unit of randomization, intervention, and analysis. The study was designed for two years of intervention (pre-kinder to kindergarten) and four data collection periods (fall 2018, spring 2019, fall 2019, and spring 2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the study was stopped prematurely and only results from the first three periods will be presented.

The two school districts where the study was conducted are located along the Texas-Mexico border in the county of Hidalgo. These school districts were selected because of the high poverty and health risk-factors levels.25 The preschools have two grade levels with children 3 and 4 years of age. The present study targeted preschools with children 4 years of age. Demographics of the two school districts were similar, 99% Hispanic, 92% economically disadvantaged, and 42% identified as English as a second language.

Enrollment: 1,277 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 5 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• PreK children
• Enrolled in PSJA and La Joya ISDs

Exclusion criteria

• na

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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1,277 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

This group received health education, P.E. classes, child nutritional services, as well as a parent component.

Treatment:

Behavioral: STEPS-PreK

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group received their usual health education and P.E. classes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: STEPS-PreK