In turn this permits evaluation of the implemented intervention/s to be better informed by the use of theory-driven

approaches (Connell and Kubisch, 1998 and Pawson and Tilley, 2009). The validity of considering selleck screening library intervention components separately (as was done in the FG discussions) could be challenged, given that the effects of a complex intervention may be greater than the sum of its parts. However, the exploratory and prioritisation processes that the participants were guided through enabled them implicitly to consider individual components and the synergies between them in their local contexts. This further contributed to the development of a theoretical understanding of the change find more pathways interventions were likely to invoke. Researchers may argue that the prioritised intervention components ultimately included in the intervention programme could have varied depending

on factors such as the mix of FG participants or the professionals recruited. This is a frequent challenge to those working with qualitative techniques. However our analysis showed thematic concordance across groups and given our breadth of sampling we believe the prioritised outcomes are transferable within comparable communities. The information on local context gained from the groups, together with the existing resource review, was crucial in the detailed planning of programme components. The processes undertaken have led to the development of an intervention founded within existing research evidence, but also taking into account the local context. The intervention development balanced pragmatism with theory driven approaches. The result is a childhood obesity

prevention programme that is tailored to UK South Asian communities, but one which could be transferred and tailored to other settings. Emergent data from similar intervention development research that we have undertaken in Iran, Qatar and China supports this approach (Al-Muraikhi, 2012, Li, 2013 and Mohammadpour-Ahranjani, 2011). Data gained from stakeholders in these settings has shown Org 27569 that the contexts that contribute to the development of childhood obesity are broadly similar, suggesting that prevention programmes could be transferred from one setting to another. However, this research has also highlighted that there are specific contextual differences that are critical to identify and understand in order to successfully tailor obesity prevention programmes to the different settings. The authors have no competing interests to declare. The Birmingham healthy Eating, Active lifestyle for Children Study (BEACHeS) is funded by the National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI, http://www.mrc.ac.