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Study protocol
Engaging adolescents in changing behaviour (EACH-B): A study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to improve dietary quality and physical activity
Millie Barrett
University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1981-1976
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Trials.
Background Poor diet and lack of physical activity are strongly linked to non-communicable disease risk, but modifying them is challenging. There is increasing recognition that adolescence is an important time to intervene; habits formed during this period tend to last, and physical and psychological changes during adolescence make it an important time to help individuals form healthier habits. Improving adolescents’ health behaviours is important not only for their own health now and in adulthood, but also for the health of any future children. Building on LifeLab - an existing, purpose-built educational facility at the University of Southampton - we have developed a multi-component intervention for secondary school students called Engaging Adolescents in Changing Behaviour (EACH-B) that aims to motivate and support adolescents to eat better and be more physically active.
Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the EACH-B intervention. The primary outcomes of the intervention are self-reported dietary quality and objectively measured physical activity (PA) levels, both assessed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. The EACH-B intervention consists of three linked elements: professional development for teachers including training in communication skills to support health behaviour change; the LifeLab educational module comprising in-school teaching of nine science lessons linked to the English National Curriculum and a practical day visit to the LifeLab facility; and a personalised digital intervention that involves social support and game features that promote eating better and being more active.
Both the taught module and the LifeLab day are designed with a focus on the science behind the messages about positive health behaviours, such as diet and PA, for the adolescents now, in adulthood and their future offspring, with the aim of promoting personal plans for change. The EACH-B research trial aims to recruit approximately 2,300 secondary school students aged 12-13 years from 50 schools (the clusters) from Hampshire and neighbouring counties. Participating schools will be randomised to either the control or intervention arm. The intervention will be run during two academic years, with continual recruitment of schools throughout the school year until the sample size is reached. The schools allocated to the control arm will receive normal schooling but will be offered the intervention after data collection for the trial is complete. An economic model will be developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the EACH-B intervention compared with usual schooling.
Discussion Adolescents’ health needs are often ignored and they can be difficult to engage in behaviour change. Building a cheap, sustainable way of engaging them in making healthier choices will benefit their long-term health and that of their future children.
Trial registration EACH-B is a cluster randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN 74109264, registered 30th August 2019), funded by the National Institute for Health Research (RP-PG-0216-20004). http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN74109264
Keywords
Adolescence, behaviour change, body composition, cluster randomised controlled trial, cost-effectiveness, diet, digital intervention; education, physical activity
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 22 Sep, 2020
Published
On 15 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 22 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 12 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 12 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 22 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 19 May, 2020
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This preprint is under consideration at Trials. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Study protocol
Engaging adolescents in changing behaviour (EACH-B): A study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to improve dietary quality and physical activity
Millie Barrett
University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1981-1976
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 2
Posted 22 Sep, 2020
Published
On 15 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 22 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 12 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 12 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 22 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 19 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Trials.
Background Poor diet and lack of physical activity are strongly linked to non-communicable disease risk, but modifying them is challenging. There is increasing recognition that adolescence is an important time to intervene; habits formed during this period tend to last, and physical and psychological changes during adolescence make it an important time to help individuals form healthier habits. Improving adolescents’ health behaviours is important not only for their own health now and in adulthood, but also for the health of any future children. Building on LifeLab - an existing, purpose-built educational facility at the University of Southampton - we have developed a multi-component intervention for secondary school students called Engaging Adolescents in Changing Behaviour (EACH-B) that aims to motivate and support adolescents to eat better and be more physically active.
Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the EACH-B intervention. The primary outcomes of the intervention are self-reported dietary quality and objectively measured physical activity (PA) levels, both assessed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. The EACH-B intervention consists of three linked elements: professional development for teachers including training in communication skills to support health behaviour change; the LifeLab educational module comprising in-school teaching of nine science lessons linked to the English National Curriculum and a practical day visit to the LifeLab facility; and a personalised digital intervention that involves social support and game features that promote eating better and being more active.
Both the taught module and the LifeLab day are designed with a focus on the science behind the messages about positive health behaviours, such as diet and PA, for the adolescents now, in adulthood and their future offspring, with the aim of promoting personal plans for change. The EACH-B research trial aims to recruit approximately 2,300 secondary school students aged 12-13 years from 50 schools (the clusters) from Hampshire and neighbouring counties. Participating schools will be randomised to either the control or intervention arm. The intervention will be run during two academic years, with continual recruitment of schools throughout the school year until the sample size is reached. The schools allocated to the control arm will receive normal schooling but will be offered the intervention after data collection for the trial is complete. An economic model will be developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the EACH-B intervention compared with usual schooling.
Discussion Adolescents’ health needs are often ignored and they can be difficult to engage in behaviour change. Building a cheap, sustainable way of engaging them in making healthier choices will benefit their long-term health and that of their future children.
Trial registration EACH-B is a cluster randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN 74109264, registered 30th August 2019), funded by the National Institute for Health Research (RP-PG-0216-20004). http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN74109264
Figure 1