Planning a WIC Research Agenda Workshop Summary (2011) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
10 Closing Session: Wrap-Up and Methodological Issues and Data Considerations
10 Closing Session: Wrap-Up and Methodological Issues and Data Considerations
Pages 111-124
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 111... ...
She mentioned biases that are linked with studies of the effects of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on low birth weight and prematurity and the probability that WIC would have a small impact on those outcomes.
|
From page 112... ...
Suggested methods for studying birth outcomes included collaboration with the National Children's Study and setting priorities with the goal of gaining the greatest benefit from the research. One way to gain benefit would be to focus on women with prior adverse outcomes or on communities with marked disparities.
|
From page 113... ...
perceptions and use of the new WIC food packages and key data needed to examine this issue; and (3) measures to address the inverted economic pressures that the provision of formula causes, perhaps starting with the testing of generic labeling of WIC-provided formula.
|
From page 114... ...
In examining associations among food insecurity, access to WIC, and WIC's effects on children, it may be useful to consider Frongillo's stress elimination model, compensation model, and buffering model. Black ended by reiterating Neuberger's concern about how the growing national deficit may lead to efforts to reduce funding for WIC, which could have serious consequences for the nation's children.
|
From page 115... ...
Using information from the nutrition education session, Whaley proposed a three-step nutrition education research agenda: 1. Conduct qualitative or survey work on how nutrition education is being delivered by WIC across the nation.
|
From page 116... ...
Sekhobo Sekhobo emphasized that research on the reach of WIC should collect information related to how well WIC is meeting its mission of providing supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referrals to its clients -- that is, to pregnant women, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to the age of 5 years. In order to claim that WIC is having beneficial effects on health, it is essential to document that WIC is reaching people, especially through nutrition education.
|
From page 117... ...
To address these broad issues, a number of specific research topics were suggested during the session, including analyses of WIC participation, potential improvements to the program, evaluation of the new food package, determination of the benefits and drawbacks of expensive ingredients added to infant formulas, and evaluation of the impact of other public assistance programs (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on participation in WIC.
|
From page 118... ...
Possible studies include the different approaches to nutrition education mentioned earlier, isolated situations of oversubscription, and the testing of aspects of WIC policy. Regression discontinuity Regression discontinuity compares people who are just below the income eligibility threshold with those who are just above it.
|
From page 119... ...
Conclusions Selection bias is a particular problem for WIC research. Because the most rigorous designs are likely to have limited external validity, Gleason recommended that the research agenda rely on multiple methods.
|
From page 120... ...
Instrumental variables Joyce provided the following hypothetical example to illustrate the use of an instrumental variable to simulate a randomized experiment: In state X, prenatal WIC funds were depleted several months before the end of the fiscal year. Thus, the eligible pregnant women who conceived near the end of fiscal year would be unable to enroll early.
|
From page 121... ...
That is, they provide information on how well regression, propensity score matching, and instrumental variables control for unobservable variables. He suggested that the research agenda include a small number of randomized studies of augmented care (called WIC Plus by earlier presenters)
|
From page 122... ...
Regarding methods, Harrison emphasized the importance of selecting appropriate outcomes, the need to consider possible biases and timing issues, the potential value of the phased approach described by Whitaker and Taveras, the value of the applying the logic model described by Findley, and the need to rely on multiple studies with multiple methods, as indicated by Gleason and Joyce. Over the course of the workshop, participants called for both programmatic and research partnering, and the National Children's Study was mentioned many times as a possible resource with which to address some of the long-term research topics.
|
From page 123... ...
2007. Effect of the Washington Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.