Cited by 90School Health and Nursing EducationObesity, Physical Activity, DietHealth Policy Implementation Science

Using School Staff Members to Implement a Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention in Low-Income School Districts: the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD Project), 2012–2014

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Blaine, Rachel E., Franckle, Rebecca L., Ganter, Claudia, Falbe, Jennifer, Giles, Catherine, Criss, Shaniece, Kwass, Jo-Ann, Land, Thomas +4 more·2017·Preventing Chronic Disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Although evidence-based interventions to prevent childhood obesity in school settings exist, few studies have identified factors that enhance school districts' capacity to undertake such efforts. We describe the implementation of a school-based intervention using classroom lessons based on existing "Eat Well and Keep Moving" and "Planet Health" behavior change interventions and schoolwide activities to target 5,144 children in 4th through 7th grade in 2 low-income school districts. METHODS: The intervention was part of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) project, a multisector community-based intervention implemented from 2012 through 2014. Using mixed methods, we operationalized key implementation outcomes, including acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, implementation fidelity, perceived implementation cost, reach, and sustainability. RESULTS: MA-CORD was adopted in 2 school districts that were facing resource limitations and competing priorities. Although strong leadership support existed in both communities at baseline, one district's staff reported less schoolwide readiness and commitment. Consequently, fewer teachers reported engaging in training, teaching lessons, or planning to sustain the lessons after MA-CORD. Interviews showed that principal and superintendent turnover, statewide testing, and teacher burnout limited implementation; passionate wellness champions in schools appeared to offset implementation barriers. CONCLUSION: Future interventions should assess adoption readiness at both leadership and staff levels, offer curriculum training sessions during school hours, use school nurses or health teachers as wellness champions to support teachers, and offer incentives such as staff stipends or play equipment to encourage school participation and sustained intervention activities.

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Authors
Blaine, R. E., Franckle, R. L., Ganter, C., Falbe, J., Giles, C., Criss, S., Kwass, J.-A., Land, T., Gortmaker, S. L., Chuang, E., Davison, K. K., & MA-CORD Project Group
Affiliations
  • California State University, Long Beach (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • Furman University (US)
  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Blaine, Rachel E.
Venue
Preventing Chronic Disease
Published
2017-01-12
Volume
14
Pages
E03-E03
ISSN
1545-1151 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2570817754
Cited by
90
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 2
FWCI
12.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • Preventing Chronic Disease (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • American Heart Association (#14POST20140055)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U18DP003370)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T32HL098048)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (T32DK007703)
  • National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (U18DP003370)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
Keywords
childhood obesity prevention, school-based intervention, school staff, low-income school districts, implementation outcomes, teacher professional development, school leadership, principal turnover, teacher burnout, school nurses, intervention sustainability
MeSH terms
School Teachers, Child, Child Health Services, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Child, Preschool, Curriculum, Female, Humans, Male, Massachusetts, Poverty, Research, School Health Services, Schools, Health Behavior, Exercise, Pediatric Obesity

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