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Parental Views on the Acceptability and Feasibility of Measurement Tools Used to Assess Movement Behaviour of Pre-School Children: A Qualitative Study.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Summerbell, Carolyn 
Hesketh, Kathryn R 
Hillier-Brown, Frances C 

Abstract

Movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) are important for the health and development of pre-school children (aged 3-4 years). There is limited qualitative research examining the acceptability and feasibility of tools used to assess movement behaviours in pre-schoolers. This study explored parental views on various measurement tools in three deprived areas in England, UK (West Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland). The study consisted of a demonstration of the different tools (accelerometers, a diary and a questionnaire), directly followed by focus group discussions. Three focus group discussions with a total of eleven parents and carers were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four main themes: (1) importance of contextual information when using any measurement tool (e.g., child illness, capturing different routines); (2) practical issues associated with devices (e.g., aversion to devices being attached directly to the skin of their child; concern of larger devices during sleep time); (3) encouraging children to wear a device (e.g., making devices attractive to children-'superpowers'); and (4) presentation of diaries and questionnaires (e.g., age-appropriate movement activities, preference for real-time recording over recall). Practical recommendations for the use of the tools to measure movement behaviours of pre-school children are provided.

Description

Keywords

acceptability, feasibility, measurement, movement behaviours, pre-school children, qualitative research, Child, Child, Preschool, Exercise, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Qualitative Research, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep

Journal Title

Int J Environ Res Public Health

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1661-7827
1660-4601

Volume Title

19

Publisher

MDPI AG
Sponsorship
MRC (MC_UU_00006/5)
Wellcome Trust (107337/A/15/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/K02325X/1)