Grant: Project Grant

In the past 20 years, Canada's healthcare system set up many clinics to treat childhood obesity. However, up to 80% of children who enrol at these clinics drop out before they finish treatment. This is one of the most difficult problems in managing childhood obesity. Even the most effective treatments can't help children who drop out. However, children who stick with treatment longer are more likely to see success in managing obesity. Our feasibility study will test if Family Navigation (FN) is useful for reducing this drop out from obesity treatment. We will use our results to plan a larger clinical trial. That kind of trial can give definite answers on whether family navigation is effective and useful, for children with obesity and for the healthcare system. We will enrol 108 children, from 6 to 17 years old, with obesity. Children will be receiving treatment from obesity management clinics in Edmonton, Calgary, and Mississauga. Half the children will receive Family Navigation + usual care for 12 months. The other half will receive usual care only for 12 months. Overall, the study will last 2.5 years. For children receiving Family Navigation, trained navigators will work with children and their families to reduce barriers that limit their access to health services and support. Navigators will offer extra services and resources, such as parking passes for clinic appointments and supportive text messages between appointments. Family navigation is designed to complement the obesity management received by children and their families. We will form a Steering Committee with children, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers to design and refine our Family Navigation intervention. By having better access to care, children and their families working with navigators may be less likely to drop out and more likely to attend more treatment appointments. Ultimately, they may be more likely to achieve success in managing obesity.