1)   Enable participants to reflect on the outputs of workshop 1 and review the collated causal maps (each map is a cause of childhood obesity)  and identify areas for intervention.

2)  Understand and explore 'existing actions'  e.g. what are you aware of that is happening now / planned for the near future.

3)  Consider our shared vision.

The focus group discussions were facilitated by Jenny Gillespie (lead discussion), Nicola Watson (note taker and monitor of chat) and Carly Stewart-MacLeod (live mapping, plectica).

In advance of, or during focus group discussions, participants offered existing or planned actions which were added to a template and the action scales model using the action mapping tool.

Our conversations topics were: 'Education Setting' &  'Play, Physical Activity and Greenspace' & 'Diet, Cooking Skills, and Planning & Licensing'

Each group was recorded and we were able to live edit our existing maps.

Thanks to all 24 participants for sharing their views and opinions. 

Focus Group Discussion 1: 'Education Setting' 

Key Points

• Intake of healthy food during the day important for attainment

• Link messaging to tie in with climate/plastic/sustainability

• Daily play and social interaction even more important post COVID – links with screens

• Teeth brushing and oral health links in and with CfE

• Whole school approach to wellbeing

• ? ‘rules’ to limit children and young people leaving school at lunchtime

• Lunchtime experience important – involve young people

Focus Group Discussion 2: 'Physical Activity, Play and Greenspace' Key Points 

• Availability of safe greenspaces with facilities (toilet/cafe)

• Messaging around learning through play awareness - promotion and visibility

• Incentives to enable non screen time accessibility and safe spaces

• ‘Modeling’ of play / physical activity by adults / workplaces 

• Lack of appropriate clothing considered barrier

• Poverty infrastructure (e.g bike parking) 

• Whole family support – local

• Bring traditional indoor activity, outdoor

Focus Group Discussions 'Diet, Cooking, Planning and Licensing' 

Key Points:

• Limit/regulate fast food outlets/vans opening near schools,                                                                  

• ‘Permission’ to use school grounds outwith school opening

• Building partnership with shops - ? incentives                                                                                 

• Local, healthy food in greenspace

• Cheaper unhealthier choices, links to poverty, fuel poverty a specific barrier

• Food growing/community allotments positive

• Knowledge/education of healthy food and diet/budgeting– targeted interventions                                       

• Food larders and emergency food provision

An additional ‘test’ focus group involving 4 young people aged 12-18years, members of DYC took place on 07/04/21, taking a different format, discussion centred around the 5 ambitions from the CHW strategy and testing of jamboard. 

Focus Group Analysis Process

• Focus groups were recorded - ‘chat’ available for review

• 20min ‘debrief meeting’ following each focus group (JG, NW, CSM –nutrition student) – 31/03/21

• 2 hour follow-up meeting and cross checking (JG, NW, EB – med student) – 12/04/21

• Email correspondence – NW identified key points, independently (16/04/21) JG identified key points, independently (21/04/21) most salient points across the three groups summarised and re-grouped under focus group topic.

• We used the action scales model and action mapping template to characterise key action identified during focus group discussions against the wider determinants of health.

Take a look at the action mapping and actions page to see the output of these focus group discussions and our next steps!