title: Sustainable childhood obesity prevention through community engagement (SCOPE) program: evaluation of the implementation phase.
abstract: Childhood obesity rates are steadily rising. Sustainable Childhood Obesity Prevention Through Community Engagement (SCOPE) is a community-based participatory action research (PAR) program aimed at preventing childhood obesity. This study aimed to describe community perspectives on, and elicit feedback about, SCOPE's first phase of implementation in two pilot cities in British Columbia, Canada. A case study was implemented using interviews and questionnaires to obtain feedback about SCOPE from two groups: SCOPE coordinators and stakeholders (i.e., individuals and organizations that were a member of the community and engaged with SCOPE coordinators). Participants were recruited via email and (or) by telephone. Coordinators completed a telephone interview. Stakeholders completed a questionnaire and (or) a telephone interview. Thematic analysis was conducted. Participants included 2 coordinators and 15 stakeholders. Participants similarly interpreted SCOPE as a program focused on raising awareness about childhood obesity prevention, while engaging multiple community sectors. Overall, participants valued the program's role in facilitating networking and partnership development, providing evidence-based resources, technical expertise, and contributing funding. Participants felt that SCOPE is sustainable. However, participants felt that barriers to achieving healthy weights among children included those related to the built environment, and social, behavioral, and economic obstacles. Perspectives on factors that facilitated and acted as barriers to SCOPE's first phase of implementation were obtained from the SCOPE communities and may be used to enhance the sustainability of SCOPE and its applicability to other BC communities.
authors.affiliation: a University of British Columbia, Department of Pediatrics, K4-213, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.affiliation: a University of British Columbia, Department of Pediatrics, K4-213, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.affiliation: b University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, F508-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mâsse
authors.affiliation: a University of British Columbia, Department of Pediatrics, K4-213, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.affiliation: c University of Victoria, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
authors.forename: Joan Wharf
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: c University of Victoria, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
authors.forename: Patti-Jean
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.affiliation: a University of British Columbia, Department of Pediatrics, K4-213, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Shazhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amed
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D006801:Humans; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: community engagement; community intervention; et engagement de la communauté; intervention communautaire; obesity; obésité, prévention; participatory action research; pediatrics; prevention; pédiatrie; recherche action participative