Evaluating sustainability in the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project: the model and process

Sustainability via Active Garden Education: The Sustainability Action Plan Model and Process

Sustainability of intervention programming is challenging to achieve under real world conditions, since few models exist and many studies do not plan far beyond the funding period. Programming content in early care and education centers (ECECs) is often driven by guidelines. However, implementation is very sensitive to contextual factors, such as the setting and implementer (teacher) characteristics. This paper presents the model, definitions, and methodology used for the sustainability action plan capitalizing on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, developed for a multi-site, multi-level garden-based childhood obesity prevention study, Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE). The Ecologic Model of Obesity is applied to develop a sustainability action plan (SAP) and accompanying measures to link early care and education (ECE) environment, the community, policies, and classroom practices to an early childhood obesity prevention program. The SAGE SAP provides an example of how to iteratively evaluate and refine sustainability processes for an obesity prevention intervention utilizing CBPR approaches and will be applied to assess the sustainability of SAGE in a cluster randomized controlled trial. This SAP model can also help inform intervention delivery and scalability within ECECs.

Stakeholder perspectives and sustainability of an integrated care model for the prevention and management of obesity: the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) project

Although reliable strategies exist to promote healthy habits that reduce childhood obesity, the sustainability of these strategies remains an ongoing public health challenge. This study aimed to identify factors experienced in a large, multisite project aimed at reducing childhood obesity that might contribute to project sustainability. Hypothesized constructs underpinning sustainability included replicability, continuation of benefits, institutionalization, and community capacity. Key informants (n = 27) completed 60 min, in-depth interviews, which were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were first coded using a combined deductive and inductive approach. Four major themes emerged (with numerous subthemes): developing partnerships, challenges to the sustainability of implemented programming, the importance of intervening in multiple settings, and ongoing implementation and evaluation strategies. Replicability of complex childhood obesity interventions is possible when there are strong partnerships. Benefits can continue to be conferred from programming, particularly when evidence-based strategies are used that employ best practices. Implementation is facilitated by institutionalization and policies that buffer challenges, such as staffing or leadership changes. Community capacity both enhances the sustainability of interventions and develops as a result of strengthening partnerships and policies that support childhood obesity programming.