Investigation of the effectiveness of the "Girls on the Go!" program for building self-esteem in young women: trial protocol

Loredana Tirlea; Helen Truby; Terry P Haines

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-683

Investigation of the effectiveness of the "Girls on the Go!" program for building self-esteem in young women: trial protocol

Springerplus. 2013 Dec 19;2(1):683. doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-683. eCollection 2013.

Authors

Loredana Tirlea¹, Helen Truby², Terry P Haines³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, 3168 Victoria Melbourne Australia ; Monash Health, (formerly Southern Health) Greater Dandenong Community Health Services, Springvale, Melbourne Australia.
² Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, 3168 Victoria Melbourne Australia.
³ Department of Physiotherapy, Southern Physiotherapy Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Melbourne Australia ; Monash Health, (formerly Southern Health) Allied Health Research Unit, Kingston, Melbourne Australia.

Abstract

Background: Body Image is a major factor affecting health in a range of age groups, but has particular significance for adolescents. The aim of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of the "Girls on the Go!" program delivered outside of the school environment by health professionals to girls at risk of developing poor self-esteem on the outcomes of self-esteem, impairment induced by eating disorders, body satisfaction, self-efficacy, and dieting behaviour.

Method: A stepped wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial that was conducted in two phases on the basis of student population (Study 1 = secondary school age participants; Study 2 = primary school age participants). The waiting list for the "Girls on the Go!" program was used to generate the control periods. A total of 12 schools that requested the program were separated into study 1 or 2 on the basis of student population (Study 1 = secondary, Study 2 = primary). Schools were matched on the basis of number of students and were allocated to receiving the intervention immediately or having a waiting list period. Study 1 had one waiting list period of one school term, creating two steps in the stepped-wedge design (i.e. 3 schools were provided with "Girls on the Go!" each term over 2 terms). Study 2 had two waiting list periods of one and two school terms, creating three steps in the stepped-wedge design (i.e. 2 schools were provided with "Girls on the Go!" each term over 3 terms). Primary outcome measures were self-esteem and impairment inducted by eating disorders.

Discussion: There is a lack of preventative interventions currently available that address low self-esteem, low self-efficacy and body dissatisfaction in young women. This project will be the first group-based, professional-led, targeted program conducted outside the school environment amongst school age young women to be evaluated via a randomised control trial. These findings will indicate if the "Girls on the Go!" program may be successfully used and applied in a culturally diverse environment and with young women of all shapes and sizes.

Trial registration: (ACTRN12610000513011).

Keywords: Adolescents; Body image; Community health intervention; Disordered eating; Eating disorders; Girls; Group therapy; Health promotion; Self-esteem; Young women.