Rose geranium in sesame oil nasal spray to improve nasal vestibulitis symptoms: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this phase III randomized double-blinded controlled trial was to investigate the efficacy of a rose geranium in sesame oil (RG) nasal spray compared with an isotonic saline (IS) nasal spray for alleviating nasal vestibulitis symptoms among patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients undergoing active chemotherapy who reported associated nasal symptoms were randomized 1:1 to receive RG or IS, administered twice daily for 2 weeks. Consenting participants completed nasal symptom questionnaires at baseline and then weekly while on treatment. The proportion of patients experiencing improvements in their nasal symptoms 2 weeks after initiating the nasal spray, using a six-point global impression of change score, was estimated within and between each randomized arm, and compared between arms, using Fisher's exact test. The estimated odds ratio was determined (95% confidence interval). RESULTS: One hundred and six patients consented to this study; 43 participants in the RG arm and 41 in the IS arm were evaluable for the primary endpoint. Participants had a mean age of 57.8 years (SD 13.9). Demographic characteristics and baseline nasal symptoms were similar between arms. Of the evaluable participants who received RG, 67.4% reported improved nasal symptoms, compared with 36.6% of the participants who received IS (P = 0.009). Adverse events were sparse and did not differ between arms. CONCLUSION: Rose geranium in sesame oil significantly improves nasal vestibulitis symptoms among patients undergoing chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04620369.

Biopsychosocial determinants of physical activity and healthy eating for people with disability living in supported accommodation: A systematic review of qualitative research.

BACKGROUND: People with disability living in supported accommodation experience ongoing health disparities. Physical activity and dietary quality are factors that may minimise the risk of chronic disease, however this population may experience a range of biopsychosocial barriers to physical activity and healthy eating. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to synthesise the biopsychosocial determinants of physical activity and healthy eating for people with disability living in supported accommodation, as reported by existing qualitative research. METHODS: A systematic review of qualitative evidence was conducted according to the JBI's methodological guidance. In September 2023, five academic databases were searched for relevant literature published since database inception. A secondary analysis of the results of included studies was guided by the International Framework for Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), using the ICF Linking Rules. RESULTS: A total of 31 articles were included. The analysis identified 154 determinants of physical activity and 112 determinants of healthy eating. Determinants were most prominently representative of environmental factors that captured the health promoting role and attitudes of staff, alongside the influence of the organisational context. CONCLUSION: This review provided evidence for the complex interactions between body functions and structures, activities and participation, personal factors, and the environment that influence physical activity and healthy eating within supported accommodation. Although there is a limited body of evidence to guide practice, the findings highlight the multifactorial nature of interventions that can be utilised by direct care professionals and adapted to the individual needs and interests of people with disability.

Childhood obesity prevention in general practice: supporting implementation through co-ideation.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is associated with physical and psychological complications thus the prevention of excess weight gain in childhood is an important health goal. Relevant to the prevention of childhood obesity, Australian general practice-specific, preventive care guidelines recommend General Practitioners (GPs) conduct growth monitoring and promote a number of healthy behaviours. However, challenges to providing preventive care in general practice may impact implementation. In October and November, 2022, a series of three workshops focusing on the prevention of childhood obesity were held with a group of Australian GPs and academics. The objective of the workshops was to determine practical ways that GPs can be supported to address barriers to the incorporation of obesity-related prevention activities into their clinical practice, for children with a healthy weight. METHODS: This paper describes workshop proceedings, specifically the outcomes of co-ideation activities that included idea generation, expansion of the ideas to possible interventions, and the preliminary assessment of these concepts. The ecological levels of the individual, interpersonal, and organisation were considered. RESULTS: Possible opportunities to support childhood obesity prevention were identified at multiple ecological levels within the clinic. The preliminary list of proposed interventions to facilitate action included GP education and training, clinical audit facilitation, readily accessible clinical guidelines with linked resources, a repository of resources, and provision of adequate growth monitoring tools in general practice. CONCLUSIONS: Co-ideation with GPs resulted in a number of proposed interventions, informed by day-to-day practicalities, to support both guideline implementation and childhood obesity prevention in general practice.

Assessment of Fungal Succession in Decomposing Swine Carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) Using DNA Metabarcoding.

The decomposition of animal bodies is a process defined by specific stages, described by the state of the body and participation of certain guilds of invertebrates and microorganisms. While the participation of invertebrates in decomposing is well-studied and actively used in crime scene investigations, information on bacteria and fungi from the scene is rarely collected or used in the identification of important factors such as estimated time of death. Modern molecular techniques such as DNA metabarcoding allow the identification and quantification of the composition of microbial communities. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to monitor fungal succession during the decomposition of juvenile pigs in grasslands of New Jersey, USA. Our findings show that decomposition stages differ in a diversity of fungal communities. In particular, we noted increased fungal species richness in the more advanced stages of decomposition (e.g., bloat and decay stages), with unique fungal taxa becoming active with the progression of decay. Overall, our findings improve knowledge of how fungi contribute to forensically relevant decomposition and could help with the assessment of crime scenes.

A five arm natural history study of nasal vestibulitis.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal symptoms are frequently reported by patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: Eligible patients planning to receive paclitaxel, docetaxel, nab-paclitaxel, bevacizumab without a concomitant taxane, or "other" (non-taxane, non-bevacizumab) chemotherapy regimens were invited to participate in this prospective study. Patients reported nasal symptoms prior to each dose of chemotherapy. RESULTS: The percentage of patients (95% CI) who reported nasal symptoms was the same for patients who received bevacizumab or nab-paclitaxel, 82.6% (61.2%, 95.1%). There were no significant differences among the proportions of patients experiencing nasal symptoms within the paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, and bevacizumab cohorts. Patients in the nab-paclitaxel cohort were more likely to experience symptoms than those in the non-taxane non-bevacizumab cohort or docetaxel cohort (p = 0.001, p = 0.001). Patients in the bevacizumab cohort were more likely to experience nasal symptoms than those in the non-taxane non-bevacizumab cohort (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Nasal vestibulitis symptoms are common in patients receiving chemotherapy, especially those receiving paclitaxel, docetaxel, and bevacizumab. Further investigations into treatments of this symptom complex are warranted.

Barriers and enablers to the implementation of healthy lifestyle interventions for people with disability living in supported accommodation: A systematic review using the consolidated framework for implementation research.

BACKGROUND: People with disability living in supported accommodation often experience significant health disparities, despite the availability of additional support. Healthy lifestyle interventions have been identified as one key health promotion strategy. Implementation science offers an opportunity to explore the factors that influence the efficacy and sustainability of these interventions, yet its application in this context has been underutilized. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review synthesized the barriers and enablers to the implementation of healthy lifestyle interventions delivered to people with disability living in supported accommodation settings. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A search for relevant literature published between January 2011 and November 2021 was conducted across six databases. The findings of included studies were coded and analyzed according to the domains and constructs of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) via deductive content analysis. RESULTS: Five studies were included, and their findings were mapped to 21 out of 38 constructs under the CFIR. Interventions from each study delivered health promotion education and training to staff and/or people with disability. The most prominent determinants that influenced implementation success included an intervention's relevance and its flexibility to adapt to the needs of people with disability, alongside organizational resourcing, and stakeholder endorsement in supporting implementation. CONCLUSIONS: The CFIR provided a systematic approach to explore the implementation of healthy lifestyle interventions. However, further research that is grounded in and guided by implementation science theories is warranted. Despite the scarcity of literature, several compelling, yet preliminary recommendations were drawn from the findings.

The delivery of healthy lifestyle interventions for people with disability living in supported accommodation: a scoping review of intervention efficacy and consumer involvement.

BACKGROUND: People with disability living in supported accommodation experience health disparities that may be partly attributed to sedentary lifestyle behaviors and poor dietary quality. Healthy lifestyle interventions have been suggested as a method of health promotion for this population; however, a synthesis of their efficacy has not yet been conducted. OBJECTIVE: The primary aims were to (1) identify healthy lifestyle interventions delivered to people with disability living in supported accommodation and (2) examine their efficacy in supporting health and well-being. A secondary aim was to explore whether people with disability have been involved in the codesign of these interventions. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's guidance for conducting scoping reviews, and six databases were searched from January 2011 to November 2021. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were included. Identified intervention types included training and education, exercise programs, and multicomponent interventions. A broad range of outcomes were examined; however, findings regarding efficacy were overall mixed and limited due to significant heterogeneity and the underreporting of consistently measured outcomes. The codesign of interventions in consultation with people with disability was underexplored. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion training for staff and tailored education for people with disability hold promise in creating a care environment that supports a healthy lifestyle. The paucity of interventions developed in consultation with people with disability is concerning and highlights the importance of meaningful co-design. The development of a theoretically informed intervention that is codesigned and addresses the broader social determinants that influence health behavior is recommended.

Using Intervention Mapping to Develop a Workplace Digital Health Intervention for Preconception, Pregnant, and Postpartum Women: The Health in Planning, Pregnancy and Postpartum (HiPPP) Portal.

Digital health interventions that specifically target working women across the preconception, pregnancy and postpartum (PPP) life stages may address the unique barriers to engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviours and self-care during this life phase. This paper describes the development of a workplace digital health intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and wellbeing for PPP women working at a community service organization in Australia. Intervention Mapping is a framework that guides program development, implementation, and evaluation. Steps 1 to 5 of Intervention Mapping methodology (needs assessment through to program implementation) were used, including identification of determinants and change objectives across socioecological levels (i.e., individual, interpersonal, and organisational) and iterative co-design and stakeholder engagement processes. The workplace digital health intervention was successfully developed and implemented as an online portal. Content included key strategies, information, and supports to promote health and wellbeing across PPP, including supporting the return to work in the postpartum period. Examples of resource pages included a parental leave checklist, process flows, Pride resources, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources. Findings from a pilot feasibility study indicate the portal was accessible and beneficial for women in PPP life stages. The Intervention Mapping protocol may offer a valuable roadmap for collaborative design of interventions targeting PPP women's behaviour and organisational work culture. Future work is needed to evaluate whether such interventions lead to improvements in women's health and wellbeing.

'It's just the nature of the work': Barriers and enablers to the health and well-being of preconception, pregnant and postpartum working women in a community service organisation.

Poor lifestyle practices, combined with excess weight gain and weight retention during the preconception, pregnancy and postpartum periods can increase health risks for mothers and their children. Little is known about how workplaces impact the health and well-being of women of child-bearing age, particularly across work roles and settings. This qualitative descriptive study explored the enablers and barriers to the healthy lifestyle practices and well-being of women of reproductive age within an Australian community services organisation by capturing the perspectives of both the women and workplace executives. Eleven interviews were conducted with executives (n = 12), and three focus groups and three interviews were conducted with women (n = 16). Data were thematically analysed, and six main themes were identified: blurring of the role and work environment, clarity and equity in policy and entitlements, the nature of community services work, individual responsibility for health, tiered levels of support and a management-driven culture of awareness and support. Barriers included high-stress roles, work targets, sedentary work behaviours, lack of clarity around policies, funding and the emotional labour associated with community services work. Hands-on leadership, open communication, work relationships, resourcing and manager training were identified as facilitators. While findings indicate agreement between executives and the women, many executives focused on the challenges associated with pregnancy in the high-risk workplace environment and did not perceive specific barriers for those in non-frontline roles. Management education to generate an understanding of women's needs during this life stage and increased resourcing to facilitate workplace well-being would be beneficial.

A systematic review of humour-based strategies for addressing public health priorities.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review research into the use of humour-based health promotion strategies for addressing public health issues during the past 10 years. METHOD: The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included in the review. Mental health, breast and testicular cancer self-examination, safe sex, skin cancer and binge drinking public health issues were targeted. Humour-based strategies were used to influence health attitudes and behaviours, encourage interpersonal sharing to indirectly affect health behaviour, and investigate the level of threat and humour associated with positive outcomes. Findings provided some evidence to support the use of humour-based strategies as determined by the right combination of audience characteristics, level of humour and amusement evoked, and message persuasion and behaviour change methods underpinning strategies. CONCLUSION: Methodologies varied limiting comparability, although overall results indicate that humour-based health promotion strategies may be a useful tool for increasing awareness and help-seeking behaviour for public health priorities, particularly those associated with stigma. Implications for public health: Humour interventions vary widely because there can never be a standardised approach to evoking humour. Further research examining humour and public health promotion is needed.

Natural history of nasal vestibulitis associated with paclitaxel, docetaxel, and other chemotherapy agents: a Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network (MNCCTN) study.

PURPOSE: To describe the natural history of nasal vestibulitis in patients receiving taxane chemotherapy, including incidence, severity, and associated symptoms. METHODS: Eligible patients with minimal or no baseline nasal symptoms were enrolled in this natural history study at initiation of a new chemotherapy regimen. Patients completed nasal symptom logs each time they received a chemotherapy dose. This manuscript reports upon the patients who received paclitaxel, docetaxel, or non-taxane non-bevacizumab chemotherapy. The proportions of patients within each cohort reporting any treatment-emergent nasal symptoms were estimated, with corresponding exact 95% confidence intervals. A cumulative incidence function was estimated within the chemotherapy cohorts to calculate the cumulative incidence rate of treatment-emergent nasal vestibulitis, treating death and disease progression as competing risks. RESULTS: Of the 81 evaluable patients, nasal symptoms were reported by 76.5% (58.8%, 89.3%) receiving paclitaxel, 54.2% (32.8%, 74.5%) receiving docetaxel, and 47.8% (26.8%, 69.4%) receiving non-taxane and non-bevacizumab chemotherapy. Of the three pairwise chemotherapy group comparisons, both the tests comparing the cumulative incidence function between the paclitaxel and non-taxane non-bevacizumab chemotherapy cohorts and between the paclitaxel and docetaxel cohorts achieved statistical significance at the 5% level with a higher incidence of treatment-emergent nasal vestibulitis in the paclitaxel cohort in both comparisons (P = 0.026 and P = 0.035, respectively). These significant differences were retained in the cumulative incidence function regression analysis controlling for age, smoking history, allergies, and asthma. Most patients in the paclitaxel cohort reported nasal symptoms as moderate or severe (56%). CONCLUSION: Patients receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy experience a high incidence of nasal symptoms.

"It's Embedded in What We Do for Every Child": A Qualitative Exploration of Early Childhood Educators' Perspectives on Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Learning.

Early childhood educators play an important role in supporting children's social and emotional development. While a growing body of research has examined the impact of curriculum-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs on child outcomes, the approaches educators use to strengthen children's social and emotional functioning through their everyday practices are less defined. This study explored Australian early childhood educators' perspectives on children's social and emotional development, the approaches educators use to encourage children's social and emotional skills, the enablers and barriers to SEL within the preschool environment, and the additional support needed. Thirty Early Childhood Education and Care professionals participated in semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Findings suggest children's social-emotional development is at the forefront of educator planning, practice, and reflection. Participants described utilising various approaches to support children's social and emotional skills, embedded within interactions and relationships with children and families. Specifically, strategies could be grouped into four broad categories: a nurturing and responsive educator-child relationship; supporting SEL through everyday interactions and practice; utilising the physical environment to encourage SEL; and working in partnership with caregivers. There was, however, inconsistency in the variety and type of approaches identified. Time constraints, group size, educator confidence and capability, high staff turnover, and limited guidance regarding high-quality social and emotional pedagogy were identified as key barriers. Participants sought practical strategies that could be embedded into daily practice to build upon current knowledge.

Rapid Review of Men's Behavior Change Programs.

Family violence is recognized as the violence toward a family member that is threatening, coercive, controlling, dominating, and causes people to fear for their safety and well-being; this complex problem primarily affects women and children. In order to enhance women and children's safety, Men's Behavior Change Programs (MBCPs) aim to achieve change in perpetrators' violent behaviors, by making men accountable and responsible for their actions. The objective of this rapid review was to examine MBCP content, implementation, and the impact on participant and family outcomes. Thirteen articles and 10 MBCPs were identified, using PRISMA guidelines, electronic database searches, and an inclusion criteria of English peer-reviewed articles examining MBCPs or domestic violence perpetrator programs with male perpetrators of family/domestic/intimate partner violence as program participants. The findings of this review indicated a limited evidence base of detailed MBCP evaluations. Information relating to program content was included for nine MBCPs and covered a wide range of topics. None of the articles examined the links between men's accountability and responsibility to the safety and well-being of women and children. Also, none of the articles included assessments of integrity of program delivery, system processes, or evaluations based on program logics. Positive changes were reported for MBCP participants, including communication, parenting, interpersonal relationships, aggression, abuse, responsibility for behavior, self-awareness power and control tactics, empathy, skills development, cognitive beliefs, behavior control, and abusiveness patterns. A whole family approach was utilized by some of the programs and one article reported on family outcomes.

A Saddle sores among female competitive cyclists: A systematic scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Saddle sores are a prominent but an under investigated health issue among female competitive cyclists. To identify and describe existing evidence of the prevalence, prevention and treatment of saddle sores among female competitive cyclists. DESIGN: Systematic scoping review and expert consultation. METHODS: Primary studies and grey literature investigating saddle sores for competitive female cyclists were identified from six databases which were systematically searched (Medline; PubMed; Scopus; SPORTDiscus; Embase; Advanced Google Scholar) from 1990 onwards. An online survey was distributed to consultants in the female Australian competitive cycling community to obtain information and expert perspectives outside the published literature. RESULTS: Of the 401 studies identified, 10 met the inclusion criteria - 4 were case-series, 4 were cross-sectional, and 2 were brief intervention trials. There was limited empirical evidence to determine the prevalence, and identify prevention and treatment approaches for saddle sores. Handlebar positioning relative to the saddle and reducing perineal pressure had some evidence. Saddle sore treatments appear to be limited to antibiotics and surgical intervention when they worsen or become infected. Yet, three-quarters of the consultants (n=16) indicated saddle sores were frequent among female competitive cyclists, identifying prevention and management strategies as topical creams, maintaining good hygiene, wearing appropriate clothing, leg elevation and taking time off the bike. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited research investigating the prevalence, prevention and treatment of saddle sores among female competitive cyclists, although it has been described as a common occurrence by those in the cycling community. Research is required to understand its prevalence, along with trials to investigate prevention and management methods, so that evidence informed guidelines and/or protocols can be developed.

Do Curriculum-Based Social and Emotional Learning Programs in Early Childhood Education and Care Strengthen Teacher Outcomes? A Systematic Literature Review.

There is growing awareness of the benefits of curriculum-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in Early Childhood Education and Care settings for children's social, emotional, and cognitive development. While many SEL programs aim to strengthen teachers' capacity and capability to foster children's social and emotional skills, research effort has focused on understanding the impact on child outcomes, with less emphasis on improvement in teaching quality. This systematic literature review examined the effectiveness of universal curriculum-based SEL programs on teacher outcomes. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria, capturing ten distinct SEL interventions. The findings suggest SEL programs may strengthen teaching quality, particularly the provision of responsive and nurturing teacher-child interactions and effective classroom management. Data were insufficient to ascertain whether participation improved teachers' knowledge, self-efficacy, or social-emotional wellbeing. The potential pathways between SEL intervention, teaching quality and children's developmental outcomes are discussed.

Integrating Health and Educational Perspectives to Promote Preschoolers' Social and Emotional Learning: Development of a Multi-Faceted Program Using an Intervention Mapping Approach.

High-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) can strengthen the social and emotional skills that are crucial for children's ongoing development. With research highlighting an increasing prevalence of emotional and behavioural challenges in young children, there is emphasis on embedding teaching practices and pedagogies to support social and emotional skills within early learning programs. A growing body of research has examined the impact of social and emotional learning programs in ECEC; however, few studies describe the intervention development process, or how educators and other professionals were engaged to increase the relevance and feasibility of the program. The current paper describes the development of the Cheshire Social-Emotional Engagement and Development (SEED) Educational Program, an online learning tool to support early childhood educators to foster children's positive mental health. Cheshire SEED was designed using five steps of the Intervention Mapping methodology: (i) comprehensive needs assessment to create a logic model of the problem; (ii) creation of program outcomes and change objectives mapped against determinants of educator behaviour; (iii) co-design of theory-based methods and practical strategies; (iv) program development; and (v) adoption and implementation planning. The process and decisions at each step of the IM protocol are presented, and the strengths and limitations of the approach to develop a mental health intervention for ECEC settings are discussed.

Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Female cyclists are prone to a variety of injuries and illnesses that occur as a result of prolonged contact with a bicycle saddle. Saddle sores are a range of skin ailments on the buttocks, genitals and inner thigh that result from a combination of friction, heat, pressure, moisture and bacteria in the saddle area. Whilst saddle sores are reportedly common, for some cyclists, the condition may cause only mild discomfort. However, for female competitive cyclists, the condition can be an ongoing source of pain and illness affecting participation and performance in the sport. Despite many online sources for health information and products for saddle sores, it is unknown what empirical evidence exists for the prevalence and severity of saddle sores, and for the effectiveness of prevention and treatment methods. This paper outlines the protocol for a scoping review, which aims to describe the empirical evidence for the prevalence, prevention and treatment of saddle sores among female competitive cyclists. Ethics approval has been obtained for this study from Curtin University's Human Research Ethics Committee no: HRE2019-0120. The findings from this study will contribute to the literature for injury in female sport.

Using Intervention Mapping for child development and wellbeing programs in early childhood education and care settings.

Supporting children's social and emotional learning benefits all elements of children's development and has been associated with positive mental health and wellbeing, development of values and life skills. However, literature relating to the creation of interventions designed for use within the early childhood education and care settings to support children's social and emotional skills and learning is lacking. Intervention Mapping (IM) is a systematic intervention development framework, utilising principles centred on participatory co-design methods, multiple theoretical approaches and existing literature to enable effective decision-making during the development process. Early childhood pedagogical programs are also shaped by these principles; however, educators tend to draw on implicit knowledge when working with families. IM offers this sector the opportunity to formally incorporate theoretical, evidence-based research into the development of early childhood education and care social and emotional interventions. Emerging literature indicates IM is useful for designing health and wellbeing interventions for children within early childhood education and care settings. Considering the similar underlying principles of IM, existing applications within early childhood education and care and development of interventions beyond health behaviour change, it is recommended IM be utilised to design early childhood education and care interventions focusing on supporting children's social and emotional development.

Promoting healthy eating, active play and sustainability consciousness in early childhood curricula, addressing the Ben10™ problem: a randomised control trial.

BACKGROUND: This paper details the research protocol for a study funded by the Australian Research Council. An integrated approach towards helping young children respond to the significant pressures of '360 degree marketing' on their food choices, levels of active play, and sustainability consciousness via the early childhood curriculum is lacking. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of curriculum interventions that educators design when using a pedagogical communication strategy on children's knowledge about healthy eating, active play and the sustainability consequences of their toy food and toy selections. METHODS/DESIGN: This cluster-randomised trial will be conducted with 300, 4 to 5 year-old children attending pre-school. Early childhood educators will develop a curriculum intervention using a pedagogical communication strategy that integrates content knowledge about healthy eating, active play and sustainability consciousness and deliver this to their pre-school class. Children will be interviewed about their knowledge of healthy eating, active play and the sustainability consequences of their food and toy selections. Parents will complete an Eating and Physical Activity Questionnaire rating their children's food preferences, digital media viewing and physical activity habits. All measures will be administered at baseline, the end of the intervention and 6 months post intervention. Informed consent will be obtained from all parents and the pre-school classes will be allocated randomly to the intervention or wait-list control group. DISCUSSION: This study is the first to utilise an integrated pedagogical communication strategy developed specifically for early childhood educators focusing on children's healthy eating, active play, and sustainability consciousness. The significance of the early childhood period, for young children's learning about healthy eating, active play and sustainability, is now unquestioned. The specific teaching and learning practices used by early childhood educators, as part of the intervention program, will incorporate a sociocultural perspective on learning; this perspective emphasises building on the play interests of children, that are experienced within the family and home context, as a basis for curriculum provision. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000363684: Date registered: 07/04/2014.