title: Scoping the impact of the national child measurement programme feedback on the child obesity pathway: study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The National Child Measurement Programme was established to measure the height and weight of children at primary school in England and provides parents with feedback about their child's weight status. In this study we will evaluate the impact of the National Child Measurement Programme feedback on parental risk perceptions of overweight, lifestyle behaviour and health service use.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study will be a prospective cohort study of parents of children enrolled in the National Child Measurement Programme and key service providers from 5 primary care trusts (administrative bodies responsible for providing primary and secondary care services). We will conduct baseline questionnaires, followed by provision of weight feedback and 3 follow up questionnaires over the course of a year. Questionnaires will measure change in parental risk perception of overweight, health behaviours and health service use. Qualitative interviews will be used to identify barriers and facilitators to change. This study will produce preliminary data on National Health Service costs associated with weight feedback and determine which feedback approach (letter and letter plus telephone) is more effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will provide the first large scale evaluation of the National Child Measurement Programme feedback. Findings from this evaluation will inform future planning of the National Child Measurement Programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Catherine.falconer@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.forename: Minhae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Aine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skow
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sovio
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Croker
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viner
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinra
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires