Examining Changes in Implementation of Priority Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Practices, and Related Barriers, Over Time in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Services: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Promoting healthy eating and physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is recommended within guidelines and supported by health promotion programs; however, implementation is suboptimal. Evidence suggests implementation within the sector varies over time; however, this has not been empirically examined in relation to implementation barriers. This study aims to: (1) describe changes in the prevalence of, and barriers to, implementation of priority healthy eating and physical activity practices; and (2) explore the associations between such barriers and implementation. Methods: This was a repeated cross-sectional study over an 8-month period. A cross-section of 150-180 Australian ECEC services were prospectively randomly sampled for each month (April-November 2023), with 1127 ECEC services sampled in total and 20% of services sampled twice. Services reported via survey their implementation of two priority practices: (1) healthy menu standards and (2) educating and engaging parents in child physical activity. They also reported on implementation status, implementation stage, and five core implementation barriers. Results: Overall, 716 services completed 809 surveys. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of implementation or general trends in barriers to implementation of the two priority practices across that time. Services reporting less barriers were significantly more likely to be implementing the priority practices, and services in more advanced implementation stages were significantly less likely to report barriers. Conclusions: To enhance the implementation of priority practices in ECEC services, key barriers to implementation need to be understood and targeted to progress services through to advanced implementation stages.