Table 3.
Measurement protocol in the Fresh Start study
| Measure | Assessment approach/tool |
|---|---|
| Weight/BMI | Measured with the individual wearing light clothing and no shoes using portable digital scales and stadiometers |
| Waist circumference | Measured twice (and averaged) with a non-stretchable measuring tape using standard methodology |
| Blood pressure | Measured three times over 60–90 min in a standardized manner [42], after several minutes of quiet sitting with a Dinamap XL automated BP monitor [43] |
| Physical activity | The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire [44] |
| Diet and Eating Behaviors | NCI computerized 24 h recall [45], Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, Weight Behavior Inventory [46] |
| Other behaviors | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [47], daily weighing, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System tobacco use questions, CAGE alcohol screening questionnaire |
| Psychosocial | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [48], Perceived Stress Scale [49], Delaying Gratification Index (food questions), perceived weight status (investigator developed), family social support for weight loss (investigator-developed) |
| Socio-demographics | Education, income, employment, race/ethnicity, age, marital status, living situation, number of children, smoking, weight history, parity, breastfeeding and chronic conditions. |
| Reach | Number, percentage and representativeness of women who participate in the study, including recruitment and retention rates and attendance at intervention sessions. |
| Adoption | Counts of uptake of the intervention by new WIC clinics after the research study, assuming effectiveness |
| Implementation | Intervention delivery: fidelity to intervention delivery using a standardized checklist with comments completed by research staff |
| Costs: materials costs and time required to deliver both conditions tracked using a log of study-related expenses, which will be summarized by category (e.g. staff time, food costs, materials, etc.) | |
| Utilization, or dose received: participant attendance counts for group and follow-up phone call session attendance; surveys at follow-up sessions for print material use and YWCA use | |
| Maintenance | WIC clinics program delivery: maintenance of the intervention beyond the research funding, including where and to whom the intervention was delivered for a period of 2 years |
| Participant behaviors: weight change at 12 month follow-up assessment |