Numerous children of different origins and genders suffer from pediatric obesity, which is a result of many factors. They include insufficient physical activity, health issues, and screen time. That is why there are a few evidence-based strategies that are designed to minimize the impact of screen time on pediatric obesity. Thus, once particular evidence-based strategies are chosen, it is necessary to determine appropriate evaluation measures to assess the effectiveness of the whole intervention program.
Program Goal and Objectives
To address the behavior comprehensively, one should clearly articulate a program goal and corresponding objectives. The main program goal is to decrease by 30-50% the time children spend using their gadgets in one month. This goal means that it is necessary to conduct a systematic literature search and analysis. In addition to that, particular objectives, both learning and behavioral, are needed. Learning objective: Underage children will be able to mention at least three aspects of how screen time can influence pediatric obesity by the end of the first month. Behavior objective: Underage children will be able to display two strategies of how they can reduce the time they spend using their electronic devices by the end of the first month. Thus, the program goal and objectives to be achieved create a basis to define measurement tools to assess the effectiveness of the intervention plan.
Evaluating the Program Effectiveness
Once the intervention plan is developed, it is necessary to understand how one can assess its effectiveness. In general, the evaluation is “a structured process intended to measure whether or not an intervention or program was successful in meeting its goals” (Monsen, 2017, p. 5). Thus, a program is said to be effective if its goal and objectives are achieved, but more specific requirements are needed for the assessment. According to Abildgaard, Saksvik, and Nielsen (2016), the effectiveness of an intervention program can be measured either qualitatively or quantitatively. For the intervention plan under consideration, a qualitative analysis seems to be more suitable because it is designed to see to what extent the program has influenced the obese children. In this case, an evaluation tool of the questionnaire should be used because it can demonstrate how much the target population has learned the program. Thus, specific questions will show whether the children know three aspects of how screen time can influence pediatric obesity. Besides, they will demonstrate whether the target population is familiar with two evidence-based strategies they can use to minimize screen time.
In addition to that, some outcome evaluation questions can be useful to determine plan effectiveness. They can be used to identify whether the program has some disparities. These questions are: Is information transparent and available for all the intervention plan participants? Are the strategies aimed at the target audience of the program? Thus, affirmative answers to even these two questions can mean that it is possible to expect effective outcomes.
Discussion
Some other factors, in addition to the information above, can also tell that the intervention program is active. Since it is aimed at combating pediatric obesity, reducing the participants’ weight will be among them, and it is proven by the US Preventive Services Task Force (2017). However, one should not forget that the plan focuses on both pediatric obesity and screen time. It denotes that it is necessary to consider the results of the two areas in combination. I will find the program useful if the participants can state three examples of the correlation between screen time and pediatric obesity and display two strategies to reduce the time they spend using gadgets. The overall success will be achieved if the children decrease screen time by 30-50%, which improves their weight.
Workplan Table
Conclusion
Pediatric obesity and screen time are in a close relationship, and this behavior should be addressed to make children healthier. Specific strategies can be used, but their implementation is not the last step. In addition to that, it is necessary to evaluate their effectiveness correctly, and there are specific measures for this. Thus, this intervention program can be measured qualitatively with the help of questionnaire to see to what extent it has influenced the target population.
References
- Abildgaard, J. S., Saksvik, P. Ø., & Nielsen, K. (2016). How to measure the intervention process? An assessment of qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection in the process evaluation of organizational interventions. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1-10.
- Monsen, K. A. (2017). Intervention effectiveness research: Quality improvement and program evaluation. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG.
- The US Preventive Services Task Force (2017). Screening for obesity in children and adolescents. JAMA, 317(23), 2417-2426.