Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38680073›Full record

ArticlePublic health nutrition2024

Nutrition environments in early childhood education: do they align with best practice?

Anna Aristova, Alison C Spence, Christopher Irwin, Audrey Elford, Laura Graham, Penelope Love

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Public health nutrition, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Assessing the implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices in Early Childhood Education and Care in New South Wales, Australia: A cross-sectional study.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anna AristovaSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC3216, Australia.ORCID 0009-0003-5940-8270
Alison C SpenceInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Christopher IrwinSchool of Health Sciences and Social Work (SHS), Nutrition and Dietetics, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia.
Audrey ElfordInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8174-0697
Laura GrahamSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC3216, Australia.
Penelope LoveInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess the comprehensiveness (scope of nutrition guidance) and strength (clarity of written language) of centre-based nutrition policies (CBNP) within early childhood education (ECE) centres. To also consider the applicability of an existing CBNP assessment tool and policy alignment with best practice food provision and feeding practices.

designCross-sectional online study to assess written ECE CNBP using the Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool.

settingLicenced ECE centres in the state of Victoria, Australia.

participantsECE centres (operating at least 8 h per d, 48 weeks per annum), stratified by location (rural and metropolitan), centre management type (profit and not-for-profit) and socio-economic area (low, middle, high).

resultsIncluded individual CBNP (

conclusionDespite the presence of written nutrition policies in ECE centres, many showed weak language and lacked comprehensiveness and strength. This may relate to poor implementation of best practice food provision or feeding practices. Low scores, however, may partly stem from using an assessment tool that is not country-specific. The redevelopment of country-specific tools to assess ECE CNBP may be warranted.

Indexed as

Nutrition PolicyChild Day Care CentersChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth PromotionHumansMaleVictoriaEarly childhood educationEarly childhood nutritionLong day careNutrition environmentsNutrition policyPolicy assessments

Identifiers

PMID38680073
PMCPMC11091921

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.