Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments as Active Food Systems

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

286 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-06-01

Study Completion Date

2019-10-01

Brief Summary

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The aim of this project is to assess the effectiveness of the fruit and vegetable (FV) gardening component of the Preventing Obesity by Design strategy to support preschool fresh fruit and vegetable knowledge, liking and consumption, and physical activity in children 3-5 years old living in under-resourced communities and attending childcare using a Randomized Controlled Trial research design. Sample: 15 childcare centers, 286 children.

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Detailed Description

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Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a gardening component on preschool children's knowledge, liking and consumption of fruit and vegetable consumption, and their level of physical activity during gardening season.

Intervention: Fruit and vegetable garden installation. Childcare centers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group 1, intervention (5 centers); Group 2, wait list control (5 centers); Group 3, no-intervention control (5 centers).

In Year 1 (Spring), baseline data was collected from Groups 1 and Group 2 (waitlist). Group 1, initial intervention centers, received the garden intervention in the Summer and both groups were assessed in the Fall, post intervention. No further data was collected from Group 1.

In Year 2 (Spring), Group 2 (waitlist, now intervention) and Group 3 were assessed. Group 2, received the garden intervention in the Summer of Year 2 and both groups were assessed in the Fall of Year 2.

No further data was collected.

Sample: 15 centers. Children: 286 (4 and 5 years old). Center demographic profile includes child data: age, gender, parental education, race/ethnicity, special needs, and height/weight (BMI). To avoid losing "graduating" five year old children, post-intervention data was gathered before school start date.

Conditions

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Pediatric Obesity Sedentary Behavior

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Childcare centers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group 1, intervention (5 centers); Group 2, wait list control (5 centers); Group 3, no-intervention control (5 centers).

In Year 1 (Spring), baseline data was collected from Groups 1 and 2. Group 1, initial intervention centers, received the garden intervention in the summer of Year 1 and both groups were assessed in the Fall, post intervention. No further data was collected from Group 1.

In Year 2, Groups 2 and 3 were assessed in the Spring. Group 2, the wait-list control centers, received the garden intervention in the summer of Year 2, and both Groups 2 and 3 were assessed in the Fall of Year 2.

No further data was collected.

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Group 1 - Intervention

Participating children have daily access to the fruit and vegetable garden beginning Year 1.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Garden installation

Intervention Type OTHER

Garden installation: 6 raised planting beds (4x6x16") configured in a single line with direct sun at least 6 hrs./day, close to hose bib, sufficient distances to allow working from most sides, vegetable vines spill over space, and storage unit for tools.

Planting beds constructed from a standard kit. Beds filled with high quality growing medium.

Plants selection criteria: a) documented harvest success in NC Piedmont; b) able to be eaten raw, c) harvest times at the same time (except strawberries).

Designated beds and plants: Bed 1: 4 pepper, 2 tomato; Bed 2: 20 bean on 2 mini-teepees, 2 cucumber (trellised); Bed 3: 1 yellow squash, 1 zucchini; Bed 4: 2 blueberry bushes, 12 strawberry; Bed 5: 2 cantaloupe. Bed 6: 2 watermelon. 2 Blackberries planted at ground level on trellis.

Group 2 - Wait-list control (delayed intervention)

Participating children have daily access to the fruit and vegetable garden beginning Year 2.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Garden installation

Intervention Type OTHER

Garden installation: 6 raised planting beds (4x6x16") configured in a single line with direct sun at least 6 hrs./day, close to hose bib, sufficient distances to allow working from most sides, vegetable vines spill over space, and storage unit for tools.

Planting beds constructed from a standard kit. Beds filled with high quality growing medium.

Plants selection criteria: a) documented harvest success in NC Piedmont; b) able to be eaten raw, c) harvest times at the same time (except strawberries).

Designated beds and plants: Bed 1: 4 pepper, 2 tomato; Bed 2: 20 bean on 2 mini-teepees, 2 cucumber (trellised); Bed 3: 1 yellow squash, 1 zucchini; Bed 4: 2 blueberry bushes, 12 strawberry; Bed 5: 2 cantaloupe. Bed 6: 2 watermelon. 2 Blackberries planted at ground level on trellis.

Group 3 - Control

No intervention

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Garden installation

Garden installation: 6 raised planting beds (4x6x16") configured in a single line with direct sun at least 6 hrs./day, close to hose bib, sufficient distances to allow working from most sides, vegetable vines spill over space, and storage unit for tools.

Planting beds constructed from a standard kit. Beds filled with high quality growing medium.

Plants selection criteria: a) documented harvest success in NC Piedmont; b) able to be eaten raw, c) harvest times at the same time (except strawberries).

Designated beds and plants: Bed 1: 4 pepper, 2 tomato; Bed 2: 20 bean on 2 mini-teepees, 2 cucumber (trellised); Bed 3: 1 yellow squash, 1 zucchini; Bed 4: 2 blueberry bushes, 12 strawberry; Bed 5: 2 cantaloupe. Bed 6: 2 watermelon. 2 Blackberries planted at ground level on trellis.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children enrolled in selected childcare centers
* Parental consent
* Child consent to participate at the time of data collection

Exclusion Criteria

* No parental consent

Minimum Eligible Age

42 Months

Maximum Eligible Age

6 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Responsible Party

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Nilda Graciela Cosco

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Nilda G Cosco, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

NC State University, College of Design

Locations

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White Plains Children's Center

Cary, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

The Goddard School

Cary, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Kiddie Academy of Fuquay

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Ready or Not, Here I Grow

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Kids Educational Center

Knightdale, North Carolina, United States

Site Status