Delivering Group Lifestyle Triple P through digital practice: A case study with Portuguese parents

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the current study was to explore the delivery of the Group Lifestyle Triple P (GLTP) parent group programme through digital practice. Eight mothers of obese children aged 6–11 were recruited from a university hospital. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study sought to characterise the perceived changes throughout the intervention and explore the outcome measures on children’s BMI z-score, weight-related behaviour problems, parents’ self-efficacy, interparental conflict and parenting styles assessed pre- and post-intervention. Participants identified changes in themselves, in positive parenting, and in their ability to manage children’s nutrition and physical activity, contributing to improve children’s lifestyle behaviours. The clinical results were similar to the findings of studies in which GLTP was delivered in-person. Delivering GLTP through digital practice seems to be a possible way of implementing the intervention, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practitioner points GLTP sessions’ contents and activities were adapted for digital delivery without compromising the programme’s implementation fidelity. Parents perceived an increase in positive parenting behaviours and their ability to manage children’s nutrition and physical activity. The clinical results of the GLTP delivered through digital practice were similar to those of studies in which the programme was delivered in-person. © 2021 The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice