A quasi-experimental study evaluating a health promotion program targeting healthy nutrition, physical activity and social network enhancement for low-income multi-problem households: study protocol

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Previous studies have shown that people living in multi-problem households are less physically active, eat less healthy, have unstable social networks, and worse self-perceived general health than other people. The aim of this paper is to describe the development and evaluation of a health promotion program called “Back2Balance” for low-income multi-problem households aimed at improving healthy nutrition, physical activity, social networks, and self-perceived health.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The Back2Balance program was developed using input from two formative studies and a co-creation process together with the target group and social workers. We used the theoretical domains framework to identify the functional components of our program. The Back2Balance program consists of: 1) a walking group, 2) cooking workshops, 3) motivational talks, 4) discounts on existing health promotion programs, and 5) family trips and children’s activities. In a quasi-experimental study respondents in the intervention group receive the usual social services support for multi-problem households and have the possibility to enroll in the program. Respondents in the control group only receive usual social services support.<strong> </strong>The program will be evaluated among 272 respondents from low-income multi-problem households living in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This protocol describes the development and evaluation of the Back2Balance program. We hypothesize that the program will lead to increased physical activity, healthy nutrition, social networks enhancement, and self-perceived health. The results of this study can be used as input for other national or international initiatives aiming to increase health of low-income multi-problem households.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Trial registration: </strong>NTR6512</p><p class="abstract"> </p>