title: The HeartSmart Family Fun Pack: an evaluation of family-based intervention for cardiovascular risk reduction in children.
abstract: In 1998, the Heart and Stroke Foundation launched the HeartSmart Family Fun Pack, a "user-friendly" resource to support family-based lifestyle changes among children age 6-12 years. Of 1,387 parents who completed a pre-intervention questionnaire, 300 (21%) were surveyed three months later. Comparisons of the pre- and post-intervention surveys show that the Family Fun Pack was effective in supporting healthy lifestyle changes (38% and 28% of families reported improvement in their child's nutrition and level of physical activity, respectively; 12% reported reduced passive smoking). Effectiveness was greatest among those families who self-identified themselves as being in what corresponds to the contemplation, preparation and action stages of change. This evaluation suggests that a relatively low-cost intervention can be effective in supporting positive lifestyle changes if targeted to families at specific points in the stages of change.
authors.affiliation: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Toronto.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertrand
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005192:Family Health; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010290:Parents; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires