Assessment of an intervention for preventing pediatric overweight and obesity through the World Caf technique: A qualitative study

Purpose: To evaluate the self-reported perspectives of participants involved in the Previene Cadiz intervention for preventing pediatric overweight and obesity. Design and methods: This qualitative study collected information through the World Cafe technique. A purposive sample of 40 participants was used, of which 14 were schoolchildren, 12 were teachers, and 14 were parent volunteers. The data were segmented, and concepts were created and grouped into dimensions and categories. Results: The participants confirmed they had learned new information and behaviors about healthy habits. Parental awareness was considered a crucial and necessary element in changing family habits; therefore, increasing the motivation of family members was deemed a critical task in public health interventions conducted in school settings. Discussion: Despite the suitability of qualitative methodology to evaluate the perceptions of the main players in an educational intervention, scientific literature is scarce. Obtaining information from the educational commu-nity about an intervention is not always easy, so the perspectives of teachers, students, and families about the Previene Cadiz intervention through the World Cafe approach is considered a relevant contribution. Conclusions: The participants considered the intervention positive in terms of learning and fostering increased knowledge, awareness, and healthy behaviors. Practice implications: Future interventions should encourage the active participation of all social groups involved, integrating dynamic and collaborative training activities that are acceptable to all participants. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.