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Implementation of vegetable and fruit programs in schools is less than optimal. This study aimed to identify, using a theoretical framework, factors associated with implementation of a school vegetable and fruit program; that provides a time in class for children to consume a piece of vegetable or fruit they have brought from home. Three hundred and three randomly selected school principals across the state of New South Wales, Australia responded to a 25-min telephone survey. Principals were asked if their school had implemented a vegetable and fruit program, and which of 12 factors from Damschroder's consolidated framework for implementation research had facilitated or impeded implementation. Multiple logistic regression models examined the association between such factors and program implementation. Seventy-eight percent of schools had a vegetable and fruit program. Schools were significantly more likely to implement the program if the principal believed that: the program was effective (OR = 2.97; P < 0.02); they had sufficient resources to implement the program (OR = 4.22; P < 0.0001); the program would not be difficult to implement (OR = 10.16; P< 0.0001) and that the program was as important as other school priorities (OR = 2.45; P < 0.02). Realizing the intended benefits of vegetable and fruit programs requires widespread implementation by schools. Consideration of principal beliefs about the program effectiveness, resources, difficultly and relative importance in program implementation strategies appear key to increasing program implementation.

Despite significant investment in many countries, the extent of schools' adoption of obesity prevention policies and practices has not been widely reported. The aims of this article are to describe Australian schools' adoption of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices over an 8-year period and to determine if their adoption varies according to schools' size, geographic or socio-economic location. Between 2006 and 2013, a representative randomly selected cohort of primary schools (n = 476) in New South Wales, Australia, participated in four telephone interviews. Repeated measures logistic regression analyses using a Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) framework were undertaken to assess change over time. The prevalence of all four of the healthy eating practices and one physical activity practice significantly increased, while the prevalence of one physical activity practice significantly decreased. The adoption of practices did not differ by school characteristics. Government investment can equitably enhance school adoption of some obesity prevention policies and practices on a jurisdiction-wide basis. Additional and/or different implementation strategies may be required to facilitate greater adoption of physical activity practices. Ongoing monitoring of school adoption of school policies and practices is needed to ensure the intended benefits of government investment are achieved.

In 2021, guidelines for early childhood education and care were released recommending children are provided access to outdoor areas during all free play sessions to reduce the risk of coronavirus disease of 2019 transmission, aligning with the existing recommendations to increase children's physical activity. There is a need to understand how to disseminate guidelines in this setting as dissemination is a prerequisite of adoption and implementation. This randomized controlled trial explored the impact of a video-based strategy to disseminate guidelines on family day care educators' intentions to adopt outdoor free play guidelines. Educators (N  = 255) were randomized to receive a video (intervention) or text-based (usual care) resource via email describing recommendations. Educators were invited to participate in a post-intervention survey at 5-week follow-up assessing intentions to adopt guidelines. The secondary outcomes included knowledge, beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences, social/professional role and identity, goals, implementation of guidelines, acceptability of resource and intervention reach. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in intentions to adopt guidelines [ß = 0.01 (95% confidence interval −0.50 to 0.52), P  = 0.97], nor for any secondary outcomes. Further investigation is needed to identify effective dissemination strategies in the family day care setting to increase the adoption of public health guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although evidence-based interventions (EBIs) and effective strategies to implement them exist, they cannot be used by policy makers and practitioners if they do not align with end users' needs. As such, adaptations to EBIs and implementation approaches are likely to occur to increase 'fit' with end users' capacity. This article describes an approach undertaken by a population health service delivery unit in one Australian state to develop an adapted implementation strategy to support the implementation of the mandatory healthy canteen policy (EBI) to all schools located in the service delivery region., Study Design: This is a case study of adapting an intervention to improve implementation of the healthy canteen policy., Methods and Results: This is a six-step pragmatic, empirically driven approach. The steps include (i) adapt, where appropriate, the EBI to facilitate implementation; (ii) identify end users' capacity for implementation; (iii) identify opportunities to adapt the implementation interventions while preserving meaningful intervention impact; (iv) undertake program adaptation; (v) develop training and resources to support delivery of implementation strategies and; (vi) evaluate the adapted intervention. This article describes the application of these steps by the authors to develop an adapted support strategy consistent with end users' needs., Conclusions: This study provides some guidance on how to adapt implementation support approaches particularly when EBIs cannot be adapted. Future empirical research providing guidance on making practical adaptation decisions are needed., (Copyright © 2019 The Royal Society for Public Health. All rights reserved.)

Background: Given evidence suggesting that sleep impacts on metabolic processes, interventions targeting sleep may improve child physical activity (PA)., Objectives: To describe the potential effect of an intervention to increase sleep on young children's (3-6 years) moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA. To determine adherence to the intervention, impact on sleep duration as well as feasibility, uptake and acceptability was also assessed., Methods: Pilot randomized controlled trial with 76 parent-child dyads randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 38) or control group (n = 38). Parents in the intervention group received a 3-month theory-informed intervention consisting of an online video, a telephone call and two text messages. Child PA was assessed using accelerometers at baseline and approximately 3 months. Parents also completed a sleep log and a telephone interview., Results: The consent rate was 41% (76/186). Estimated effect size for the intervention relative to control was 10.8 min/day for MVPA, 2.7 min/day for PA and 0.9 h for sleep. Sixteen (44%) parents accessed the video, and 18 (50%) received the telephone call. Over 40% of parents found the video and telephone call useful/very useful., Conclusions: This study reports promising effects that an intervention targeting sleep may improve child MVPA and sleep duration. Some modifications to data collection methods and intervention delivery are needed., (© 2018 World Obesity Federation.)

Background: We assessed agreement between reported anxiety and depression levels of cancer patients using (i) single self-report items and (ii) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We also explored whether anxiety and depression assessment by (i) single self-report items or (ii) the HADS was most strongly associated with a preference to be offered professional assistance. The proportion of patients indicating that they would accept (or were currently using) professional support if they were experiencing anxiety or depression was also examined., Patients and Methods: A consecutive sample of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at four metropolitan public hospitals in Australia completed a touch screen computer survey. A consecutive subsample of patients attending three of these treatment centres answered additional questions about psychological support preferences., Results: Of 304 respondents, 54% [95% confidence interval (CI) 48% to 60%] perceived that they were currently experiencing mild to severe anxiety and depression. 22% (95% CI 18% to 27%) indicated a preference to be offered professional help. There was moderate agreement between the HADS and single-item responses for categorisation of anxiety and depression. Patient-perceived mild to severe anxiety and depression levels appeared to be the best measure for identifying those with a preference to be offered professional assistance. Of a subsample of 193 respondents, 89% (95% CI 84% to 93%) indicated that if they were experiencing anxiety or depression, they would accept (or were currently using) professional support., Conclusions: Single-item screening in a cancer care setting may not adequately capture clinical anxiety and depression. However, single-items assessing patients' perceived levels of anxiety and depression are useful indicators of whether patients want to be offered, and are likely to accept, psychosocial care.