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. 2000 Jul-Aug;91(4):256-9.
doi: 10.1007/BF03404283.

The HeartSmart Family Fun Pack: an evaluation of family-based intervention for cardiovascular risk reduction in children

[Article in English, French]
S Cookson  1 , A Heath, L Bertrand
Affiliations

The HeartSmart Family Fun Pack: an evaluation of family-based intervention for cardiovascular risk reduction in children

[Article in English, French]
S Cookson et al. Can J Public Health. 2000 Jul-Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

In 1998, the Heart and Stroke Foundation launched the HeartSmart Family Fun Pack, a "user-friendly" resource to support family-based lifestyle changes among children age 6-12 years. Of 1,387 parents who completed a pre-intervention questionnaire, 300 (21%) were surveyed three months later. Comparisons of the pre- and post-intervention surveys show that the Family Fun Pack was effective in supporting healthy lifestyle changes (38% and 28% of families reported improvement in their child's nutrition and level of physical activity, respectively; 12% reported reduced passive smoking). Effectiveness was greatest among those families who self-identified themselves as being in what corresponds to the contemplation, preparation and action stages of change. This evaluation suggests that a relatively low-cost intervention can be effective in supporting positive lifestyle changes if targeted to families at specific points in the stages of change.

En 1998, la fondation des maladies du cœur a lancé sa pochette „ Du plaisir Cœur atoutMC pour toute la famille ”, un produit convivial qui encourage les familles à modifier le mode de vie de leurs enfants de 6 à 12 ans. Un sondage téléphonique auprès de 1 387 parents qui avaient demandé à recevoir la pochette a été effectué afin d’en évaluer l’efficacité. De ce nombre, 300 (21 %) familles avaient accepté de recevoir un appel de suivi trois mois après le contact initial. Les résultats du sondage préliminaire et de l’enquête de suivi révèlent que la pochette a aidé les familles à apporter des changements pour améliorer leurs habitudes de vie (38 % d’entre elles déclarent qu’elles ont réussi à améliorer les habitudes alimentaire de leurs enfants, 28 % qu’elles font plus d’exercice physique et 12 % qu’elles ont réduit l’usage du tabac à la maison lorsque les enfants sont présents). La pochette a obtenu plus de succès auprès des familles qui affirmaient être à l’étape de réflexion, de préparation ou d’action du processus de changement. L’évaulation démontre que les programmes d’intervention à faible coût peuvent être efficaces pour inciter les gens à améliorer leur mode de vie pourvu que la population cible ait déjà atteint certaines étapes précises du processus de changement.

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