A great way to bring up health behaviour topics at playgroup: a qualitative evaluation of the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program

Abstract Background The early years is a critical stage to establish optimal nutrition and movement behaviours. Community playgroups are a relaxed environment for parents with a focus on social connection and supporting parents in their role as ‘First Teachers’. Playgroups are therefore an opportunistic setting to promote health behaviours in the early years. To support parents with young children around healthy lifestyle behaviours, the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was delivered in urban and regional areas, across three Australian jurisdictions between 2021–2023. Objective This qualitative evaluation aimed to understand how the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was experienced by parents, playgroup coordinators and peer facilitators. Design Semi-structured virtual interviews and focus groups were conducted with parents, playgroup coordinators (i.e., person responsible for coordinating the playgroup) and peer facilitators (i.e., trained facilitator for the program) that participated in the Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup study. Transcripts were analysed following a thematic analysis approach. Results Twenty-eight playgroup parents, coordinators or peer facilitators participated in one of 8 focus groups or 5 interviews. Four themes were developed: Program strengths and challenges; Setting strengths and challenges; Factors that impact program delivery; Participant’s suggestions for future program delivery. Conclusions The Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup program was valued by parents, providing validation and normalisation of parenting practices, and fostering a shared experience of parenting. Playgroups are a convenient setting for families to attend. The dynamic and distracting nature of the playgroup setting were carefully considered when designing the program. Strategies to further enhance program engagement could include use of coordinator or parent champions, tailored delivery, and extending the reach to other family members. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000055808, registered 22 January 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380890摘要 背景：幼儿期是建立最优营养与运动行为模式的关键阶段。社区儿童游戏小组（Community Playgroups）为家长营造了轻松的社交互动氛围，助力家长履行“第一任教师”的育儿职责。因此，儿童游戏小组是推广幼儿期健康行为的优质契机场景。为支持低龄儿童家长养成健康生活方式，“游戏小组健康对话”项目（Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup）于2021—2023年间在澳大利亚三个辖区的城市与偏远地区落地实施。 研究目标：本质性评估旨在探究家长、游戏小组协调员与同伴引导者（Peer Facilitators）对“游戏小组健康对话”项目的参与体验。 研究设计：本研究对参与该项目的家长、游戏小组协调员（即负责统筹游戏小组运营的人员）与同伴引导者（即经过项目专项培训的引导人员）开展半结构化线上访谈与焦点小组讨论，并采用主题分析法对访谈转录文本进行系统性分析。 研究结果：共有28名游戏小组家长、协调员或同伴引导者参与了8场焦点小组讨论中的1场，或5次单独访谈中的1次。最终提炼出四大核心主题：项目的优势与挑战；场景的优势与挑战；影响项目实施的关键因素；参与者对项目未来开展的优化建议。 研究结论：“游戏小组健康对话”项目获得了家长的高度认可，其为育儿实践提供了正向验证与常态化支持，并有效增进了家长群体间的育儿共鸣。儿童游戏小组是家庭参与健康育儿支持活动的便捷场景。在项目初始设计阶段，研究团队已充分考量游戏小组场景的动态性与易分散注意力的特点。未来可通过以下策略进一步提升项目参与度：培育协调员或家长骨干、实施定制化开展方案，并将服务覆盖范围拓展至其他家庭成员。 试验注册：本研究已在澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心（Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry）完成注册，注册号为ACTRN12621000055808，注册日期为2021年1月22日，注册链接：https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380890