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

James E. Harrison (), Julie Abayomi, Shaima Hassan, Lawrence Foweather, Clare Maxwell, Deborah McCann, Sarah Garbett, Maria Nugent, Daisy Bradbury, Hannah Timpson, Lorna Porcellato, Marian Judd, Anna Chisholm, Nabil Isaac, Beth Wolfenden, Amy Greenhalgh and Paula M. Watson
Additional contact information
James E. Harrison: Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2EX, UK
Julie Abayomi: Faculty of Health Social Care and Medicine, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK
Shaima Hassan: Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK
Lawrence Foweather: Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2EX, UK
Clare Maxwell: School of Public and Allied Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK
Deborah McCann: Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2EX, UK
Sarah Garbett: Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2EX, UK
Maria Nugent: Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackburn BB1 7DY, UK
Daisy Bradbury: Manchester and Salford Pain Centre, Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance, Salford M6 8HD, UK
Hannah Timpson: Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2QP, UK
Lorna Porcellato: School of Public and Allied Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK
Marian Judd: HCRG Care Group Services Limited, Salisbury SP4 6AT, UK
Anna Chisholm: Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GF, UK
Nabil Isaac: Cornerstone Practice and Health Care, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackburn BB1 2HR, UK
Beth Wolfenden: Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackburn BB1 7DY, UK
Amy Greenhalgh: Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackburn BB1 7DY, UK
Paula M. Watson: Physical Activity Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 2EX, UK

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 1-21

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.

Keywords: physical activity; obesity; diet; early years; maternity; acceptability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/2/137/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/2/137/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:2:p:137-:d:1572877

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().