title: Factors influencing the implementation of a school-based parental support programme to promote health-related behaviours--interviews with teachers and parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 'Healthy School Start' programme was developed to promote healthy dietary habits and physical activity, targeting parents of 6-year-old children in pre-school class. Knowledge of barriers and facilitators of implementation is crucial before introducing this kind of programme on a larger scale. The aim of this study was to explore the views of teachers and parents regarding factors influencing the implementation of a school-based parental support programme to promote physical activity and healthy diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  An inductive qualitative method was used to explore the experiences and views of teachers and parents involved in the programme. A group discussion was held with three teachers, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clear communication on roles and responsibilities was identified as an overarching theme, emphasising the importance of clear information and well-functioning cooperation between project management, schools and parents when implementing the programme in a school setting. Five categories at a manifest level described aspects influencing the implementation: 1) 'The programme' underlining the importance of flexibility and feed-back; 2) 'the school' referring to management and work routines; 3) 'family conditions', implying various life situations; 4) 'group dynamics' dealing with attitudes among children and parents; and 5) 'the surrounding community' including accessibility and attitudes within society.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When implementing a parental support programme in a school setting it is important to facilitate communication and clearly define the division of responsibilities between project management, schools and parents. This emphasises the need for managerial support, and a professional prevention support system.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Box 1497, 171 29, Solna, Sweden. helena.bergstrom@sll.se.|Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. helena.bergstrom@sll.se.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.affiliation: National Board of Forensic Medicine, Box 4044, Huddinge, Sweden. ulrika.haggard@rmv.se.
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haggård
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. asa.norman@ki.se.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Box 1497, 171 29, Solna, Sweden. elinor.sundblom@sll.se.
authors.forename: Elinor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundblom
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Box 1497, 171 29, Solna, Sweden. liselotte.schafer-elinder@ki.se.|Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. liselotte.schafer-elinder@ki.se.
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schäfer Elinder
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Box 1497, 171 29, Solna, Sweden. gisela.nyberg@ki.se.|Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. gisela.nyberg@ki.se.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nyberg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D004032:Diet; D005178:Faculty; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012574:Schools; D012944:Social Support