This pilot study aims to investigate the effects of a four-week online feeding awareness training program for fathers of typically developing children aged 3-6 years. The study will examine changes in fathers' parental self-efficacy and feeding attitudes, as well as their children's eating and mealtime behaviors. The main research question is whether an online awareness training program for fathers can improve parental self-efficacy and feeding attitudes and contribute to positive changes in children's eating behaviors. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a four-week follow-up.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
12
The intervention is a four-week online group-based feeding awareness training program developed for fathers of children aged 3-6 years. It consists of four weekly 60-minute sessions delivered via Google Teams. The sessions focus on: (1) motor, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial skills involved in feeding; (2) sensory processing differences and sensory strategies that can be used before mealtimes; (3) parental feeding attitudes, mealtime routines, positive reinforcement, and behavioral strategies; and (4) parental self-efficacy, emotion regulation, stress management, and brief relaxation and mindfulness strategies. Each session includes educational content, discussion, a question-and-answer section, and recommendations for home practice.
Ankara Medipol University
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
RECRUITINGParental Self-Efficacy Scale
The Parental Self-Efficacy Scale is a 17-item, 7-point Likert-type measure used to assess parental self-efficacy. Each item is scored from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), resulting in a total score ranging from 17 to 119. Higher scores indicate greater parental self-efficacy.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after the 4-week intervention (Week 4), and 4 weeks after completion of the intervention (Week 8).
Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS)
The Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) is a parent-reported measure used to assess children's eating and mealtime behaviors. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The Turkish adaptation evaluates the 25 items related to the child's feeding behaviors. Higher scores indicate more problematic eating behaviors and greater feeding difficulties.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after the 4-week intervention (Week 4), and 4 weeks after completion of the intervention (Week 8).
Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire
The Parental Feeding Style Scale is a 27-item, 5-point Likert-type measure used to assess parents' attitudes and behaviors related to feeding their children. Each item is scored from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), with total scores ranging from 27 to 135. Higher scores indicate a greater presence of the corresponding parental feeding style. The Turkish version includes four feeding-style dimensions assessing parental control, guidance, and emotional responses during feeding.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after the 4-week intervention (Week 4), and 4 weeks after completion of the intervention (Week 8).
Participant Satisfaction With the Online Feeding Awareness Training
An investigator-developed numerical rating questionnaire will be used to assess participants' perceptions of the effectiveness, comprehensibility, and overall satisfaction with the online feeding awareness training. Each item is rated on a 10-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree).
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention (Week 4).
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