Identifying barriers and facilitators to increase fibre intakes in UK primary school children and exploring the acceptability of intervention components: a UK qualitative study

Angela S Donin; Lucy P Goldsmith; Clare Sharp; Charlotte Wahlich; Peter H Whincup; Michael H Ussher

doi:10.1017/S1368980024000089

Public Health Nutrition (Jan 2024)

Identifying barriers and facilitators to increase fibre intakes in UK primary school children and exploring the acceptability of intervention components: a UK qualitative study

Angela S Donin,
Lucy P Goldsmith,
Clare Sharp,
Charlotte Wahlich,
Peter H Whincup,
Michael H Ussher

Affiliations

Angela S Donin: Population Health Research Institute, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, England, UK
Lucy P Goldsmith: ORCiD; Population Health Research Institute, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, England, UK
Clare Sharp: Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK
Charlotte Wahlich: Population Health Research Institute, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, England, UK
Peter H Whincup: Population Health Research Institute, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, England, UK
Michael H Ussher: Population Health Research Institute, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, England, UK Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980024000089
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 27

Abstract

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Abstract Objective: Within the UK, dietary fibre intakes are well below recommended intakes and associated with increased risk of obesity. This study aimed to explore the views of parents and children on barriers and facilitators to increasing fibre intakes and improving diets, alongside investigating the appropriateness of intervention components to overcome modifiable barriers. Design: Qualitative study including semi-structured interviews and focus groups informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model. Participants: Year 5 children (aged 9–10-years) and parents, recruited through London primary schools Results: A total of twenty-four participants (eleven parents and thirteen children) took part. Five key themes were identified as barriers and facilitators, namely lack of (and improving) knowledge, social factors (including parent–child conflicts, limited time for food preparation, influence of peer and family members), current eating habits, influence of the school, community and home environment in shaping eating behaviours, and the importance of choice and variety in finding foods that are healthy and tasty. Parents strongly supported school-based dietary interventions to enable consistent messaging at home and school and help support dietary behaviour change. Practical sessions (such as workshops to strengthen knowledge, taste tests and food swap ideas) were supported by parents and children. Conclusions: By using a theory-driven approach to explore the barriers and facilitators to increasing fibre intake, this research identified important themes and modifiable barriers to behaviour change and identifies acceptable intervention components to overcome barriers and bring about sustained dietary behaviour change in primary school children.

Published in Public Health Nutrition

ISSN: 1368-9800 (Print); 1475-2727 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine; Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition

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