The Appetite Toolbox for Preschools

NCT05486403 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2020-169
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 205
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study uses a Hybrid research design to assess the effectiveness and implementation of a preschool-based programme - the Appetite Toolbox - delivered by Early Childhood Educators to promote children's appetite awareness and eating regulation skills. Children, their caregivers and classroom teachers will be recruited across 18 classrooms from preschool childcare centers. Preschool educators will deliver the Appetite Toolbox over a period of six weeks. Using a waitlist-control design we will measure changes in children's appetite awareness and eating regulation skills in school and describe implementation outcomes, such as fidelity, acceptability, and feasibility of the programme.

Conditions

Eating Behavior; Self Regulation; Body Weight

Keywords

Hybrid Design; Preschool; Eating Behaviour; Appetite; Eating Regulation; Food intake

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Child appetite awareness

  Difference in accuracy in identifying changes in hunger and fullness pre- and post- meal for i) self (measured at lunch time), and ii) a fictional character described in a story. Ratings will be made on a custom 5-point picture rating scale ranging from "very hungry, my tummy is empty" (1) to "Very full, there is no room left in my tummy".

  Baseline and Post-intervention (~6 weeks)

• Child eating in the absence of hunger (EAH)

  Differences in the tendency for children to 'eat in the absence of hunger' (EAH) pre- and post-intervention. EAH is measured as the total calories consumed from a snack immediately presented within 10 minutes after consuming lunch, where more calories consumed confers greater EAH.

  Baseline and Post-intervention (~6 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Implementation outcomes (quantitative)

  Baseline and Post-intervention (~6 weeks)

• Implementation outcomes (qualitative)

  Post-intervention (~6 weeks)

• Appetite Toolbox Fidelity

  During the intervention (~ week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Appetite Toolbox programme)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Child appetite traits

  Baseline and Post-intervention (~6 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Preschool Educators deliver the Appetite Toolbox programme directly to children over a period of six weeks after the pre-test and before the post-test effectiveness measures.

Behavioral: Appetite Toolbox Programme

Waitlist Control

OTHER

Preschool Educators continue to deliver their usual preschool curriculum over a period of six weeks after the pre-test and before the post-test effectiveness measures. They will deliver the Appetite Toolbox programme directly to children after the post-test measures.

Behavioral: Appetite Toolbox Programme

Interventions

Appetite Toolbox Programme BEHAVIORAL

Preschool educators are trained to deliver a bio-behavioural classroom-based programme focusing on building skills in i) appetite awareness, ii) attention/attention control and iii) sensing body cues. The programme is delivered using a combination of interactive story books, classroom props and activities, and mealtime transitions/routines.

Intervention; Waitlist Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 3 Years - 6 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children:
• Age 3 years 0 months to 6 years 11 months.
• English speaker (primary or secondary language)
• Enrolled in the childcare Program of the participating school
• Parent/Legal guardian/Caregiver:
• Age 21 years and older
• English speaker (primary or secondary language)
• Staff:
• Age 21 years and older
• English speaker (primary or secondary language)
• Currently employed as teaching staff at a participating preschool

You may not qualify if:

• Children:
• Severe food allergy
• Does not normally eat the school's meal and snack provisions
• Non-English speaker (English is not primary or secondary language)
• A medical condition affecting appetite and metabolism
• Parent/Legal guardian/Caregiver:
• Below 21 years old
• A non-English speaker (English is not primary or secondary language)
• Staff:
• Below 21 years old
• A non-English speaker (English is not primary or secondary language)
• Not employed as teaching staff at a participating preschool

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Singapore: lead
• National University of Singapore: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences

Singapore, 117609, Singapore

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior; Self-Control; Body Weight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior; Social Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Scientist

Model Details: The effectiveness measures are assessed using a parallel cluster-controlled design. The preschool center is considered a cluster for randomisation to either an Intervention Group or Waitlist Control Group. All preschool centers will deliver the Appetite Toolbox programme by the end of the research and contribute to the implementation outcomes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 1, 2022
• First Posted: August 3, 2022
• Study Start: July 18, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2022
• Study Completion: January 31, 2023
• Last Updated: August 21, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-08

Locations

SG (1)