title: Predictors of Short- and Long-Term Attrition From the Parents as Agents of Change Randomized Controlled Trial for Managing Pediatric Obesity.
abstract: Attrition in pediatric weight management is a substantial problem. This study examined factors associated with short- and long-term attrition from a lifestyle and behavioral intervention for parents of children with overweight or obesity.
  
  
  
  Fifty-two families with children ages 6 to 12 years old and body mass index at or above the 85th percentile participated in a randomized controlled trial focused on parents, comparing parent-based cognitive behavioral therapy with parent-based psychoeducation for pediatric weight management. We examined program attrition using two clinical phases of the intervention: short-term and long-term attrition, modeled using the general linear model. Predictors included intervention type, child/parent weight status, sociodemographic factors, and health of the family system.
  
  
  
  Higher self-assessed health of the family system was associated with lower short-term attrition; higher percentage of intervention sessions attended by parents was associated with lower long-term attrition.
  
  
  
  Different variables were significant in our short- and long-term models. Attrition might best be conceptualized based on short- and long-term phases of clinical, parent-based interventions for pediatric weight management.
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Amanda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Keaschuk
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ambler
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jetha
authors.forename: Nicholas L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Rhonda J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rosychuk
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Arya M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Geoff D C
authors.initials: GDC
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Body mass index; cognitive therapy; family; follow-up studies