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Title: Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project: Cross-site evaluation method

Author
item O'CONNOR, DANIEL - University Of Houston
item LEE, REBECCA - Arizona State University
item MEHTA, PARAS - University Of Houston
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item BHARGAVA, ALOK - University Of Maryland
item CARLSON, COLEEN - University Of Houston
item KAO, DENNIS - University Of Houston
item LAYNE, CHARLES - University Of Houston
item LEDOUX, TRACEY - University Of Houston
item O’CONNOR, TERESIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item RIFAI, HANADI - University Of Houston
item GULLEY, LAUREN - University Of Houston
item HALLETT, ALLEN - University Of Houston
item KUDIA, OUSSWA - University Of Houston
item JOSEPH, SITARA - University Of Houston
item MODELSKA, MARIA - University Of Houston
item ORTEGA, DANA - University Of Houston
item PARKER, NATHAN - University Of Houston
item STEVENS, ANDRIA - University Of Houston

Submitted to: Childhood Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2014
Publication Date: 2/1/2015
Citation: O'Connor, D.P., Lee, R.E., Mehta, P., Thompson, D.J., Bhargava, A., Carlson, C., Kao, D., Layne, C.S., Ledoux, T., O’Connor, T., Rifai, H., Gulley, L., Hallett, A.M., Kudia, O., Joseph, S., Modelska, M., Ortega, D., Parker, N., Stevens, A. 2015. Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project: Cross-site evaluation method. Childhood Obesity. 11(1):92-103.

Interpretive Summary: Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue, particularly in low income families. The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project uses an integrated approach to address obesity at multiple levels. Three projects were funded, and each uses a common framework to address childhood obesity. Although each project will be evaluated separately, the Evaluation Center will use a common set of measurement tools to assess the effectiveness of the overall intervention. This paper describes the framework the Evaluation Center will use to evaluate the overall success of the demonstrate project. The results of the evaluation will be used to determine whether multilevel, multisector programs integrating public health and primary care interventions are appropriate for national implementation in diverse communities.

Technical Abstract: The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) project links public health and primary care interventions in three projects described in detail in accompanying articles in this issue of Childhood Obesity. This article describes a comprehensive evaluation plan to determine the extent to which the CORD model is associated with changes in behavior, body weight, BMI, quality of life, and healthcare satisfaction in children 2–12 years of age. The CORD Evaluation Center (EC-CORD) will analyze the pooled data from three independent demonstration projects that each integrate public health and primary care childhood obesity interventions. An extensive set of common measures at the family, facility, and community levels were defined by consensus among the CORD projects and EC-CORD. Process evaluation will assess reach, dose delivered, and fidelity of intervention components. Impact evaluation will use a mixed linear models approach to account for heterogeneity among project-site populations and interventions. Sustainability evaluation will assess the potential for replicability, continuation of benefits beyond the funding period, institutionalization of the intervention activities, and community capacity to support ongoing program delivery. Finally, cost analyses will assess how much benefit can potentially be gained per dollar invested in programs based on the CORD model. The keys to combining and analyzing data across multiple projects include the CORD model framework and common measures for the behavioral and health outcomes along with important covariates at the individual, setting, and community levels. The overall objective of the comprehensive evaluation will develop evidence-based recommendations for replicating and disseminating community-wide, integrated public health and primary care programs based on the CORD model.