Feasibility of Network Interventions to Facilitate Community Coalition Adoption of Evidence-Based Strategies for Child Obesity Prevention

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Childhood obesity is a modifiable determinant of many adulthood chronic diseases, including heart disease and most types of cancer, Children from families with socioeconomic disadvantage suffer from increased risk of childhood obesity and related chronic conditions, experiencing 23-33% greater obesity prevalence when compared to children in higher-income households. Community coalitions, consisting of members from organizations that represent multiple sectors (e.g., public health, schools, community-based organizations), have proven their ability to reduce childhood obesity by using evidence-based strategies (EBS). However. coalition adoption of EBS remains a well-cited challenge. particularly within communities with higher levels of poverty. Because coalitions are networks of partnerships, researchers have started using network interventions with coalition leaders to jointly modify coalition partnerships to accelerate behavior change and increase the diffusion of obesity prevention knowledge. Further, researchers are using systems science simulation to provide insight into the mechanisms through which individuals' relationships change over time and how individual behavior spreads. Thus, with the help of simulation, this study aims to develop and test network interventions to increase the adoption of evidence-based strategies (EBS) among childhood obesity prevention coalitions serving communities with socioeconomic disadvantage. This will be accomplished first by collaboratively developing network interventions using simulation with coalition leaders and modeling experts, and second, by using a 2- arm cluster-randomized control trial to test the feasibility of deploying the network interventions aimed at increasing the adoption of EBS among coalitions working in populations with socioeconomic disadvantage. This grant will generate crucial training for Dr. Moore's advancement to become an independent investigator in chronic disease prevention, focusing on the effects of community coalition action on child health equity, The training goals for this application are to acquire: (1) theoretical knowledge and practical skills in network science and simulation; (2) knowledge and skills in implementation science research and health disparities research; and (3) skills in the design and analysis of small-n experimental designs. Dr. Moore has a supportive institutional environment and a multidisciplinary mentorship team with expertise in obesity prevention, network science and modeling, implementation science, health disparities, and community-based research. This career development award will advance Dr. Moore through the NIH research pipeline, preparing him for a successful R01 grant application, helping him achieve his long-term career goal of becoming an independent scientific researcher with expertise in developing and testing interventions aimed at enabling coalitions to improve their evidence translation and health equity practices.