STREAM 4: ‘Optimising the Implementation of Interventions’

What is the issue?

The best health outcomes will be achieved by implementing effective programs and practices in the best possible way. Implementation is supported by understanding factors such as the effect of implementation support strategies, cost and acceptability. To achieve the best health outcomes for the greatest number of people, programs and practices should be delivered effectively at scale and be sustainable over the long term.

How this program will help?

We are trialling how best to implement, at scale, a school based nutrition program (SWAP IT) and a school based physical activity intervention (Physically Active Children in Education (PACE)). Both of these programs have been found to be effective in pilot and effectiveness trials.
When determining optimal implementation, our analyses will consider factors such as effectiveness, cost, acceptability, feasibility, and how we can sustain implementation over the long term.

PROJECTS:

We are conducting randomised implementation trials in schools to determine how to best implement effective programs at scale. A series of trials will be conducted allowing us to make strategic changes to how the programs are delivered, testing at each point whether implementation is improved.

Physically Active Children in Education (PACE) (Contact Dr Nicole Nathan)
SWAPIT (Contact Dr Rachel Sutherland)

Publications:

PACE

• Identifying essential implementation strategies: a mixed methods process evaluation of a multi-strategy policy implementation intervention for schools
• 
  The impact of an implementation intervention that increased school’s delivery of a mandatory physical activity policy on student outcomes: A cluster-randomised controlled trial
• How effective are physical activity interventions when they are scaled-up: a systematic review
• Multi-strategy intervention increases school implementation and maintenance of a mandatory physical activity policy: outcomes of a cluster randomised controlled trial
• Exploring the effect of a school‐based cluster‐randomised controlled trial to increase the scheduling of physical activity for primary school students on teachers’ physical activity
• Implementation of a School Physical Activity Policy Improves Student Physical Activity Levels: Outcomes of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial
  Find more information about Physically Active Children in Education (PACE) projects on the Good for Kids website here.
  
  ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
• Economic evaluation of a multi-strategy intervention that improves school-based physical activity policy implementation       

SWAPIT

• Maximising the adoption of a school-based mHealth intervention to improve the nutritional quality of student lunchboxes to ensure population-level impact
• A systematic review of adaptations and effectiveness of scaled-up nutrition interventions
• A cross-sectional study to determine the energy density and nutritional quality of primary school lunchboxes
• Multicomponent mHealth-Based Intervention (SWAP IT) to Decrease the Consumption of Discretionary Foods Packed in School Lunchboxes: Type I Effectiveness–Implementation Hybrid Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
• Effectiveness of Technology-Enabled Knowledge Translation Strategies in Improving the Use of Research in Public Health: Systematic Review

         ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

• Cost and Cost Effectiveness of a Pilot m-Health Intervention Targeting Parents of School-Aged Children to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Foods Packed in the Lunchbox