Mixed methods feasibility and usability testing of a childhood obesity risk estimation tool

BMC Public Health · 7 authors, 6 centres

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TL;DR

This study used a mixed-methods design to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of a childhood obesity risk estimation tool (SLOPE CORE) among Health Visitors and parents in the UK. The central result was that the tool was found to be easy to use, acceptable, and useful for facilitating health promotion conversations, with a System Usability Scale score indicating excellent usability.

Full summary

609 CHARS

The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including training Health Visitors (HVs) to use the SLOPE CORE tool and conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups with HVs and parents. Usability was measured with the System Usability Scale (SUS), yielding a mean score of 84.4 (n=4) from HVs. Qualitative findings indicated the tool was acceptable and useful; HVs felt it facilitated difficult conversations by providing 'clinical evidence' for risk, and parents desired risk information accompanied by support. Potential barriers included the need for internet access and time for sensitive discussions.

STUDY TYPE

other

SPECIALTY

pediatrics

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AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10478378

Mixed methods feasibility and usability testing of a childhood obesity risk estimation tool

BMC Public Health

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ABSTRACT

Background A Childhood Obesity Risk Estimation tool (SLOPE CORE) has been developed based on prediction models using routinely available maternity and early childhood data to estimate risk of childhood obesity at 4–5 years. This study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability and usability of SLOPE CORE within an enhanced health visiting (EHV) service in the UK, as one context in which this tool could be utilised. Methods A mixed methods approach was used to assess feasibility of implementing SLOPE CORE. Health Visitors (HVs) were trained to use the tool, and in the processes for recruiting parents into the study. HVs were recruited using purposive sampling and parents by convenience sampling. HVs and parents were invited to take part in interviews or focus groups to explore their experiences of the tool. HVs were asked to complete a system usability scale (SUS) questionnaire. Results Five HVs and seven parents took part in the study. HVs found SLOPE CORE easy to use with a mean SUS of 84.4, ( n = 4, range 70–97.5) indicating excellent usability. Five HVs and three parents took part in qualitative work. The tool was acceptable and useful for both parents and HVs. Parents expressed a desire to know their child’s risk of future obesity, provided this was accompanied by additional information, or support to modify risk. HVs appreciated the health promotion opportunity that the tool presented and felt that it facilitated difficult conversations around weight, by providing ‘clinical evidence’ for risk, and placing the focus of the conversation onto the tool result, rather than their professional judgement. The main potential barriers to use of the tool included the need for internet access, and concerns around time needed to have a sensitive discussion around a conceptually difficult topic (risk). Conclusions SLOPE CORE could potentially be useful in clinical practice. It may support targeting limited resources towards families most at risk of childhood obesity. Further research is needed to explore how the tool might be efficiently incorporated into practice, and to evaluate the impact of the tool, and any subsequent interventions, on preventing childhood obesity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-023-16500-2.

CITATION EXPORT

Grace Grove, Nida Ziauddeen, Paul Roderick et al.. Mixed methods feasibility and usability testing of a childhood obesity risk estimation tool. BMC Public Health. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16500-2

AUTHORS

7 · 6 CENTRES

Grace Grove, Nida Ziauddeen, Paul Roderick, Ivaylo Vassilev, Jane V. Appleton, Dianna Smith, Nisreen A. Alwan

1https://ror.org/01ryk1543grid.5491.90000 0004 1936 9297School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
2NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton, UK
3https://ror.org/01ryk1543grid.5491.90000 0004 1936 9297School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
4https://ror.org/04v2twj65grid.7628.b0000 0001 0726 8331Formerly Professor of Primary and Community Care, Oxford Brookes University (Retired), Oxford, UK
5https://ror.org/01ryk1543grid.5491.90000 0004 1936 9297School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
6grid.430506.40000 0004 0465 4079NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK