An interactive Malaysian Childhood Healthy Lifestyle (i-MaCHeL) intervention programme to change weight-related behaviour in preschool child-parent dyads: Study protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial

Ahmad Faezi Rashid, Sharifah Wajihah Wafa, Ruzita Abd Talib, Nor Mazlina Abu Bakar, Ahmad Faezi Rashid, Sharifah Wajihah Wafa, Ruzita Abd Talib, Nor Mazlina Abu Bakar

Abstract

Introduction: Unhealthy weight, especially childhood obesity, is emerging as a growing epidemic and a challenge in developed and developing countries. Partnership with parents to promote healthy lifestyle changes may have a lifelong impact on weight-related outcomes in children. This study aims to determine the efficacy of an Interactive Malaysian Childhood Healthy Lifestyle (i-MaCHeL) intervention programme to change weight-related behaviour in preschool child-parent dyads.

Materials and methods: The i-MaCHeL programme is a single-blind, theory-driven intervention, two-group cluster randomised controlled trial that evaluates the efficacy of a 3-month health promotion intervention in preschool child-parent dyads. In recognition of the value of multiple theoretical approaches, the strong theoretical basis consists of Social Cognitive Theory, Health Belief Model, and Trans-Theoretical Model principles underpinning the development of the intervention programme. In total, 460 child-parent dyads from 12 preschools in Terengganu, Malaysia, will be recruited. The children in the intervention group will expose to the i-MaCHeL classroom activities, while the parents will access the i-MaCHeL Web-based educational programme and numerous parent-child home-based online activities. The children in the control group will continue with any existing health-related activities, while the parents will receive the link to the general health newsletters. BMI z-score, dietary intake, physical activity, screen time duration, health-related quality of life, parental self-efficacy, parental role modelling, and parental policies will be assessed at baseline, 3 months' post-baseline, and at 6 months' follow-up (9 months' post-baseline). General linear model repeated measure analysis will be used to determine differences between groups at the 3- and 9-month surveys with adjustment for potential covariates. Statistical analyses will follow intention-to-treat principles.

Conclusion: We hypothesise that the combination of the classroom and interactive Web-based activities will have a strong potential to be effective strategies to sustain child-parent engagement and participation in the weight-related behaviour change programme.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04711525.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1. Flow chart of the i-MaCHeL…
Fig 1. Flow chart of the i-MaCHeL programme trial design.

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