Careful conversations: an educational video to support parents in communicating about weight with their children.

BACKGROUND: Parents may struggle to initiate healthy weight-related conversations with their children. Educational videos may be an effective tool for improving parents' knowledge and self-efficacy on this topic. The aim of this pilot study was to develop an educational video to assist parents in weight-related conversations with their child, and to assess changes in parents' self-efficacy on this topic. METHODS: Video development was based on a scoping review and semi-structured interviews with parents. Respondent demographics and user satisfaction were assessed at pre- and post- video, and 4-6 months later. Self-efficacy scores were compared between parent groups based on weight concerns over time. RESULTS: Fifty-seven parents participated in the video questionnaires, and 40 repeated measures 4-6 months later. Significant improvements in self-efficacy in "raising the issue of weight" and "answering questions or concerns" were found after watching the video (p ≤ 0.002) compared to baseline, and scores 4-6 months post baseline remained slightly elevated, but non-significant. Parents with concerns about their child being overweight had significantly lower perceived self-efficacy scores compared to parents with no concerns about their child's weight (p = 0.031). The video was found to be positively received and of relevance to parents across a number of different domains. CONCLUSION(S): Preliminary findings suggest an educational video about initiating weight-related conversations may be an effective tool for increasing parents' perceived self-efficacy in the short term. Further work is needed to validate findings in a randomized controlled trial, and with diverse parent populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03664492 . Registered 10 September 2018 - Retrospectively registered.

Evaluation of a Pediatric Obesity Management Toolkit for Health Care Professionals: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Health care professionals (HCPs) play a critical role in helping to address weight-related issues with pediatric patients, yet often feel ill-equipped to discuss/manage this complex and sensitive health issue. Using the five As ("Ask, Assess, Advise, Agree, and Assist") of Pediatric Obesity Management, we created a series of educational videos and evaluated the content, quality (acceptability, engagement), and impact of these videos on HCPs' self-efficacy, knowledge, and change in practice when addressing weight-related issues with pediatric patients and their families using questionnaires. HCPs (n = 65) participated in a baseline assessment and 4-6 month follow-up (n = 54). Knowledge and self-efficacy increased post-video for the majority of participants. At follow-up, most HCPs reported a change in their practice attributable to viewing the videos, and their self-efficacy ratings improved over time for the majority of questions asked. Most participants rated aspects of each of the videos highly. Preliminary findings suggest that an evidence-based educational toolkit of videos, based on the 5As framework, may lead to changes in self-reported behaviors among HCPs, and sustained improvements in their self-efficacy in addressing weight-related topics with children and their families. (Clinical Trial Number NCT04126291).

Talking About Weight With Families-Helping Health Care Professionals Start the Conversation: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Health care professionals (HCPs) and trainees feel ill-equipped to discuss weight-related issues with children and their families. A whiteboard video for HCPs and trainees outlining strategies to communicate about weight was developed and evaluated. Seventy HCPs, including 15 trainees, participated in the baseline assessment and 39 repeated measures 4 to 6 months later. HCP self-efficacy for initiating conversations with overweight and underweight patients, measured immediately following the video, significantly improved from pre-video values (Z = -5.6, P ≤ .001, and Z= -3.3, P = .001, respectively). Although improvements were not sustained 4 to 6 months later (overweight: P = .143, and underweight: P = .846), no significant decline was observed, suggesting retention of the skill. A majority of HCP respondents would recommend the video to a colleague and feel it will affect their practice. Thus, the present study suggests educational videos may be an effective tool for facilitating healthy weight-related conversations between HCPs and their pediatric patients.