Date of Award
January 2015
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Department
School of Public Health
First Advisor
Melinda Irwin
Second Advisor
Marney White
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Prior to the development of the Activity Begins in Childhood (ABC) Trial, no cluster-randomized control trial has investigated the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention with daycare providers in Canada.
Rationale: Educating daycare providers about the importance of improving their preschooler’s gross motor skills, physical activity, and reducing sedentary time in their daycare environments is an important step toward diminishing the rates of childhood obesity and overweight across Canada.
Method: A total of N = 15 daycare centers were enrolled in the ABC trial and equally randomized to: Intervention 1, Intervention 2, or a Comparison Group. Intervention providers attended two 3-hour workshops, bi-monthly booster sessions, and obtained a physical activity guidebook. Changes in the daycare environment were assessed using the Environmental Policy Assessment & Observation (EPAO) instrument. Data collections occurred at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months. Higher scores on EPAO subscales and the total EPAO –Physical Activity (PA) component indicated higher quality daycare environments. Changes in total EPAO –PA scores and all eight EPAO subscales, total physical activity minutes, and positive staff statements were assessed over time between groups.
Results: No significant differences were found between groups at 6-months for mean total EPAO-PA scores. At 6 months, Intervention 2 descriptively had the highest mean EPAO-PA score. “Staff Behaviors and Physical Activity” subscale scores were significantly higher in the Intervention 2 group than the Control group at 6 months. More positive staff prompts were observed for Intervention 2 as compared to both groups at 6 months.
Conclusions: The Activity Begins in Childhood (ABC) intervention with daycare providers using the EPAO suggests that improvements in staff behaviors and the overall daycare environment are feasible. Future research should explore the validation of a more comprehensive tool to assess the daycare environment.
Recommended Citation
Ciotti, Jenna, "Environmental Policy Assessment & Observation (epao) In Daycare Centers: Does The Daycare Provider And Environment Matter?" (2015). Public Health Theses. 1042.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysphtdl/1042
This Article is Open Access
Comments
This is an Open Access Thesis.