The aim of this trial is to examine the feasibility of a larger-scale intervention study (regional study in schools run by the Ministry of Education) to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in schools towards reducing percentages of childhood obesity prevalence rates by at least 0.5% every two years for all children, using an organic-based healthy eating intervention package for primary school children and their parents.
Pre-implementation phase: All necessary approvals (Bioethics, Ministry of Education) for the implementation of the study will be taken. Initial contacts with school directors will be done to obtain their approval. Preparatory phase: Contact with the parents' union will be done, to explain the aim of the study and bring them in contact with interested organic companies in order to reach an agreement for the cost of providing organic fruits and vegetables in school lunch menus. Following the agreement, parents and children will be informed about the study through separate seminars for children and parents and a flyer that will be sent at home. Signed consent forms will be obtained. Teachers will also be taken on board and information pertaining to the overall scope and objectives of the study will be shared with them. This phase will also involve pre-testing of all the data collection tools. After pre-testing, necessary modifications will be carried out in the tools. Intervention phase: At the beginning of the intervention (March 2020), a baseline questionnaire with demographic data and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to record the children's diet habits will be administered to parents. Organic fruits and vegetables will be introduced at the school lunch menu and one workshop for children will be implemented per month. The workshops will include interactive games for children. Signs will be posted in various school areas. At the end of the intervention (end of May 2020), a seminar for parents will take place in order to discuss their children's impression of the program. FFQ and evaluation questionnaires (feedback on the intervention) will be administered to parents. For the control group: No intervention (usual education). School directors are contacted and their approval is requested to conduct the study that aims to assess the eating habits of primary school children. The parents will be informed about the study with a flyer that will be sent at home through school and signed informed consents will be obtained. A baseline questionnaire with demographic data and an ffq will be administered to parents about their children in March 2020. Another ffq will be administered at the end of May 2020.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
56
The intervention package will be consisted of: 1. Introduction of organic fruits and vegetables (by replacing the conventional ones) in school lunch menus 2. Signs in school areas about organic fruits and vegetables 3. Workshops and interactive games for children 4. Seminars for parents
Primary schools
Limassol, Cyprus
Change in reported consumption frequency of fruit and vegetables (organic and conventional) in children
Self-reported consumption of foods based on a food frequency questionnaire. This is based on the consumption frequency of food items for the last three months.
Time frame: baseline, 9 weeks
Accrual rates
Number of participants recruited
Time frame: 9 weeks
Accrual losses
Number of participants declined/withdrawn to participate
Time frame: 9 weeks
Acceptability of the intervention by children (qualitative, proportions)
Use of an evaluation questionnaire on intervention acceptability, which will be administered to parents at the end of the intervention. This includes 4 closed and 4 open-ended questions.
Time frame: 9 weeks
Change in number of servings of fruits and vegetables consumed
Each teacher in charge during lunch period records the number of fruits and salad servings consumed (photos of non-consumed fruits and salad - 1 per week).
Time frame: 9 weeks
Change in reported consumption frequency of other food groups (meat and sweets/fats/oils groups) in children
Self-reported consumption of foods based on a food frequency questionnaire. This is based on the consumption frequency of food items for the last three months.
Time frame: baseline, 9 weeks
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