Tools, harmonization and standardization procedures of the impact and outcome evaluation indices obtained during a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to prevent obesity in early childhood: The ToyBox-study

T. Mouratidou*, M. L. Miguel, O. Androutsos, Y. Manios, I. De Bourdeaudhuij, G. Cardon, Z. Kulaga, P. Socha, S. Galcheva, V. Iotova, A. Payr, B. Koletzko, L. A. Moreno, Eva Grammatikaki, Christina Katsarou, Eftychia Apostolidou, Eirini Efstathopoulou, Kristin Duvinage, Sabine Ibrügger, Angelika StraußBirgit Herbert, Julia Birnbaum, Christine Geyer, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Marieke De Craemer, Ellen De Decker, Lieven Annemans, Stefaan De Henauw, Lea Maes, Carine Vereecken, Jo Van Assche, Lore Pil, Mai Chin A. Paw, Saskia te Velde, Juan Fernandez, Maribel Mesana, Pilar De Miguel-Etayo, Esther M. González-Gil, Luis Gracia-Marco, Beatriz Oves, Agneta Yngve, Susanna Kugelberg, Christel Lynch, Annhild Mosdøl, Bente B. Nilsen B., Carolyn Summerbell, Helen Moore, Wayne Douthwaite, Catherine Nixon, Susanne Kreichauf, Andreas Wildgruber, Kamila Zych, Magdalena Góźdź, Beata Gurzkowska, Katarzyna Szott, Mina Lateva, Natalya Usheva, Vanya Marinova, Zhaneta Radkova, Nevyana Feschieva, Tim Lobstein, Andrea Aikenhead, Goof Buijs, Annemiek Dorgelo, Aviva Nethe, Jan Jansen, Otto Gmeiner, Jutta Retterath, Julia Wildeis, Axel Günthersberger, Leigh Gibson, Claus Voegele

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The ToyBox-intervention is a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention targeting multiple lifestyle behaviours in preschool children, their teachers and their families. This intervention was conducted in six European countries, namely Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain. The aim of this paper is to provide a descriptive overview of the harmonization and standardization procedures of the baseline and follow-up evaluation of the study (and substudies). Steps related to the study's operational, standardization and harmonization procedures as well as the impact and outcome evaluation assessment tools used are presented. Experiences from the project highlight the importance of safeguarding the measurement process to minimize data heterogeneity derived from potential measurement error and country-by-country differences. In addition, it was made clear that continuing quality control and support is an important component of such studies. For this reason, well-supported communication channels, such as regular email updates and teleconferences, and regular internal and external meetings to ensure smooth and accurate implementation were in place during the study. The ToyBox-intervention and its harmonized and standardized procedures can serve as a successful case study for future studies evaluating the efficacy of similar interventions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-60
Number of pages8
JournalObesity Reviews
Volume15
Issue numberSUPPL.3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

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