Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the HealthyWEY E-Learning Toolkit for Promoting Healthy Weight in the Early Years

Harrison, JE ORCID: 0000-0002-5648-146X, Abayomi, J ORCID: 0000-0002-8133-5595, Hassan, S, Foweather, L ORCID: 0000-0001-9851-5421, Maxwell, C, McCann, DA, Garbett, S, Nugent, M, Bradbury, D, Timpson, H, Porcellato, L ORCID: 0000-0002-8656-299X, Judd, M, Chisholm, A, Isaac, N, Wolfenden, B, Greenhalgh, A and Watson, PM (2025) Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the HealthyWEY E-Learning Toolkit for Promoting Healthy Weight in the Early Years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22 (2). ISSN 1661-7827

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Abstract

Despite being well-positioned to promote healthy lifestyles in young children, early years practitioners often face barriers to supporting child weight management. This mixed-methods study aimed to assess the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of an e-learning toolkit (HealthyWEY) designed to upskill and support multi-agency professionals to promote healthy weight in early childhood. A total of 54 health visitors/community nursery nurses, 38 children’s centre staff and 17 other health professionals engaged with the HealthyWEY e-learning, which drew on self-determination theory and consisted of nine modules that were completed over 7–10 weeks. Non-parametric statistical analysis using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank tests were used to explore participants’ practice-based knowledge, psychological needs satisfaction and motivations for prioritising pre-school child weight from pre- to post-intervention. Focus groups (n = 11) were conducted with a sub-sample of multi-agency professionals (n = 39) to explore the process of implementation across sites, while interviews were also conducted with two parents/carers who took part in consultations with HealthyWEY-trained practitioners. After completing the HealthyWEY e-learning, participants perceived fewer barriers to pre-school child weight management (median change = −0.7; p < 0.001), greater autonomy (median change = 0.7, p < 0.001), competence (median change = 0.8, p < 0.001) and relatedness (median change = 0.4, p < 0.001) and a higher autonomous motivation towards promoting healthy weight (median change = 0.3, p < 0.001). E-learning was perceived to be highly relevant to participants’ roles and congruent with local child weight strategies. Challenges to implementation included time constraints and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for a better user experience were offered by enhancing the toolkit’s design and interactivity. Engagement with the HealthyWEY e-learning led to promising changes in perceived barriers and motivational variables. The toolkit was perceived to be acceptable amongst multi-agency workforces, albeit challenging to prioritise within time-pressured health and early years settings.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Toxicology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Public and Allied Health Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	MDPI
Date of acceptance:	18 December 2024
Date of first compliant Open Access:	24 January 2025
Date Deposited:	24 Jan 2025 12:50
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 16:00
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/ijerph22020137
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25409

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