title: Using Intervention Mapping to develop the Parents as Agents of Change (PAC©) intervention for managing pediatric obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric obesity has become increasingly prevalent over recent decades. In view of the psychosocial and physical health risks, and the high likelihood that children with obesity will grow to become adults with obesity, there is a clear need to develop evidence-based interventions that can be delivered in the health care system to optimize the health and well-being of children with obesity and their families. The aim of this paper is to describe the development, implementation, and planned evaluation of a parent-based weight management intervention designed for parents of 8-12 year olds with obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The principles of Intervention Mapping (IM) were used to develop an intervention called Parents as Agents of Change (PAC©). From 2006 to 2009, an environmental scan plus qualitative (individual interviews with parents and children), quantitative (medical record reviews), and literature review data were collected to gain broad insight into family factors related to pediatric obesity and its management. Theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence guided curriculum development, which was founded primarily on the tenets of family systems theory and cognitive behavioral theory. PAC was developed as a manualized, 16-session, group-based, health care professional-led intervention for parents to address individual, family, and environmental factors related to the management of pediatric obesity. The intervention was refined based on feedback from local and international experts, and has been implemented successfully in a multi-disciplinary weight management centre in a children's hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IM provided a practical framework to guide the systematic development of a pediatric weight management intervention for parents of children with obesity. This logical, step-by-step process blends theory and practice and is broadly applicable in the context of obesity management intervention development and evaluation. Following intervention development, the PAC intervention was evaluated within a randomized clinical trial. Trial registration NCT01267097; clinicaltrials.gov.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Room 4-515, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87th Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. gdball@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Geoff D C
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Aislin R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mushquash
authors.affiliation: , #780 Princeton Place, 10339-124th St, Edmonton, AB, T5N 3W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Keaschuk
authors.affiliation: Health Technology & Service Policy, Research & Innovation Branch, Strategic Planning & Policy Development Division, Alberta Health, 18th Floor, ATB Building, 10025 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5J 1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ambler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Room 3-526, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87th Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
authors.forename: Amanda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents
keywords: Child; Cognitive therapy; Obesity; Parents; Pediatric obesity; Weight reduction programs