Aim: To evaluate the impact of INFANT training on practitioner confidence to discuss obesity prevention messages with parents and changes in the obesity prevention practices of maternal and child health (MCH) nurses.
Background: INFANT aims to support parents with healthy eating and active play from birth. Randomised controlled trial results showed that the program reduced child sedentary time and improved dietary patterns, with sustained benefits to 5 years of age. INFANT is being scaled up across Victoria with facilitator training consisting of 6-8 hours of interactive online learning.
Method: From 2020-23, 927 practitioners including 552 MCH nurses from 70/79 local government areas in Victoria completed INFANT training. Pre and 12-month post training surveys measured changes in participant confidence in discussing obesity prevention messages with parents and the obesity prevention practices of MCH nurses.
Findings: Of those completing training, 126 (13.6%) completed pre and 12-month surveys. Of 112 facilitators, there were significant increases in confidence in discussing the 7 INFANT key messages with parents (all P<0.05). Amongst MCH nurses (n=76, 13.7 response rate), there was a significant increase in proportion of nurses reporting discussing screen time (43.5% to 58.9%), active play (50% to 67.1%) and family meals (63.2% to 79.5%) (all P<0.05) most of the time/often with parents. MCH practices regarding growth monitoring and discussions with parents around fruit/vegetable intake, drink choices, and fussy eating, were high at baseline and did not significantly change.
Conclusion: 12 months following INFANT training, practitioners had more confidence to discuss obesity prevention messages with parents and there was a sustained improvement in the proportion of MCH nurses routinely discussing screen time, active play and family meals with parents. We acknowledge that those completing surveys may be more engaged in the topic and thus may not be representative of all those who completed the training.