Exploring nurses' knowledge and attitudes about children who are overweight/obese: A review of the literature (original) (raw)
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School Nurses' Perceptions of Childhood Obesity
Journal of School Health, 1987
A random sample of 250 nurses from the American School Health Association membership were sent a questionnaire concerning childhood obesity; 88% responded. Most (85 %) believed normal weight was important to children's health and that school nurses should be role models by maintaining normal weight (77%). Most also believed counseling children and their parents about weight loss was dijficult (71 %) and that schools need to do more to alleviate Childhood obesity (65%). At least 75% believed all schools should offer a comprehensive health curriculum with units on nutrition and weight control. Likewise, all schools should eliminate "unk food" machines and make special low-calorie lunches available. Only 25% felt competent to prescribe weight loss programs for children. and only 30% found counseling about weight loss professionally gratijying. One-fourth believed, that with proper guidance, children could lose signifcant amounts of weight or maintain that weight loss. The nurses believed in the importance of normal weight, but appeared skeptical of children's abilities to lose weight as well as their own abilities to provide children with guidance to do so. Finally, they perceived a need for schools to be more active and involved in dealing with childhood obesity. (J Sch Health 1987;57(8):332-336) besity 0 group referred to as represents a complex and heterogeneous of disorders, perhaps more appropriately "the obesities." An estimated 5% to 25% of children and adolescents may be obese.' The prevalence of obesity in children remains uncertain due to lack of standardized criteria for defining obesity. Obesity in infancy does not correlate with obesity in later childhood.* However, the longer children remain obese, the greater the probability they will be obese adolescents and adults. About 80% of obese adolescents become obese adults.' The intractability of adult obestity and its subsequent pathologies have focused greater attention on preventing and treating obesity in childhood. Mallick' reviewed the health hazards of childhood obesity and concluded the hazards should be considered in terms of immediate and delayed physical and psychological morbidity. Obese children experience increased risk for carbohydrate intolerance and hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and decreased release of growth Also, overweight children are especially vulnerable to stigma and, because of the importance society gives to physical attractiveness, psychological risks are compounded should that child remain obese into the adult years.12J3 Since school nurses can assist obese school children and their families, this study assessed their perceptions regarding childhood obesity. The following questions were examined: 1) Do school nurses perceive childhood obesity as a serious health risk?
Exploring the knowledge of student nurses about children who are overweight/obese
Clinical Nursing Studies, 2019
Objective: The prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity has increased in many countries worldwide. Children who are overweight/obese are at a higher risk of negative health outcomes. It is important to educate nursing students in their undergraduate studies to understand weight issues and therefore to help children manage overweight/obesity during childhood. The aim of this study was to compare the knowledge of childhood overweight/obesity between two cohorts (2-year program and 4-year program) of undergraduate nursing students at a University in South Taiwan.Methods: Quantitative data were collected with a translated self administered questionnaire. Survey results were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentages. A T-test was used to compare the responses between the two groups of students.Results: The findings of the survey demonstrated that nursing students in Taiwan have a good general knowledge about this issue. However, the results showe...
Swedish Child Health Care nurses conceptions of overweight in children: a qualitative study
BMC Family Practice, 2012
Background: Registered Sick Children's Nurses and District Nurses employed at Child Health Care centres are in a position to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Prevention of this challenging public health threat could be improved through having a better understanding of how this group of nurses perceives childhood obesity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the conceptions of childhood overweight, including obesity, among nurses working in Child Health Care. Method: A qualitative study using a phenomenographic approach, based on open-ended interviews with 18 Child Health Care nurses (CHC-nurses) strategically selected from 17 Child Health Care Centres in the southern part of Sweden. Results: Four categories of description emerged from the data: Perception of childhood overweight changes, Overweight in younger children a neglected concern, Overweight a delicate issue and Importance of family lifestyle. The participating CHC-nurses conceived overweight in children, primarily obesity in children to be an extensive and serious problem which affects children, families and the surrounding society. Overweight in children was further perceived as a consequence of their parent's lifestyle and their awareness of the problem, which was considered by the CHC-nurses as a sensitive and a provoking issue. It was also perceived that overweight in children is not taken seriously during the pre-school period and that concerns regarding overweight in younger children were mainly about the appearance and not the health of the child. The CHC-nurses perceived that the proportion of overweight children has increased, which Swedish society and the CHC-nurses have adapted to. This adaptation makes it difficult for CHC-nurses to define those children who are overweight. Conclusion: CHC-nurses provide a comprehensive and complex picture of childhood overweight, which includes several difficulties dealing with this issue. Attention to CHC-nurse's conceptions of overweight in children is important since it can affect the parent-nurse relationship and thereby the nurse's, as well as the parent's efforts to influence the children's weight. It is suggested that CHC-nurses should work with person centered counseling and empowerment concerning parent to child relations in cases involving overweight.
Children who are overweight or obese: Attitudes and beliefs of nursing students in Taiwan
Clinical Nursing Studies
Background: Overweight/obesity has increased worldwide in recent decades. The prevalence of children who are overweight/obese has also increased in Taiwan. Nursing professionals’ attitudes and beliefs may affect the quality of care for children who are overweight and obese.Purpose: To explore the attitudes and beliefs of nursing students about children who are overweight/obese in Taiwan.Methods: A self-administered translated questionnaire was completed by two groups (2-year program and 4-year program) of undergraduate nursing students in Taiwan. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and t-test.Results: Data from this study indicated that two groups (2-year program and 4-year program) of undergraduate nursing students hold positive attitudes towards overweight/obese children. The 2-year program nursing students held more neutral attitudes about overweight/obese children. Neither group had strong beliefs related to children’s eating habits.Conclusions: Education is one way ...
Childhood overweight and obesity conceived by Child Health Care nurses : a qualitative study
2012
Background: Registered Sick Children’s Nurses and District Nurses employed at Child Health Care centres are in a position to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Prevention of this challenging public health threat could be improved through having a better understanding of how this group of nurses perceives childhood obesity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the conceptions of childhood overweight, including obesity, among nurses working in Child Health Care. Method: A qualitative study using a phenomenographic approach, based on open-ended interviews with 18 Child Health Care nurses (CHC-nurses) strategically selected from 17 Child Health Care Centres in the southern part of Sweden. Results: Four categories of description emerged from the data: Perception of childhood overweight changes, Overweight in younger children a neglected concern, Overweight a delicate issue and Importance of family lifestyle. The participating CHC-nurses conceived overweight in children, pri...
Background: Childhood overweight/obesity has been rising around the world. However, there is a paucity of literature discussing nurses' nursing students' attitudes and beliefs toward overweight/obese children. This paper provides a discussion of the development of a survey tool (Mandarin version) used to measure nursing students' attitudes and beliefs. Aims: To describe the development and psychometric analysis of a tool (Mandarin version) to measure the attitudes and beliefs of nursing students toward childhood overweight/obesity in Taiwan. Methods: The Mandarin version of a 26 item tool was used to measure nursing students' attitudes and beliefs about childhood overweight/obesity on a five-point Likert Scale. The reliability of the tool for attitudes and beliefs was assessed by Cronbach's Alpha. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation was performed. Findings: One hundred and fifteen responses were received. Following factor analysis, the 26 items were reduced to 19 for the Mandarin version. Factor analysis revealed three factors: self-concept, social relationships and poor eating behaviour. The reliability for the 13 items on the attitude subscale was 0.760, and the 6 item beliefs subscale was 0.756. Discussion: This study has demonstrated that the Mandarin version of this tool is reliable and valid. Both the attitude and belief scales were found to have internal consistency and reliability. Conclusion: This is the first study to describe the psychometric testing of a tool of nursing students' attitudes and beliefs about childhood overweight/obesity (Mandarin version). Evidence of the reliability and validity of the items has been established. The tool is easily administered and can be used to identify nurses or nursing students' attitudes and beliefs to childhood overweight/obesity.
Nursing: promoting the health of overweight children and adolescents in the school context
Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 2014
The study aimed to analyze the nursing interventions related to the competencies of health promotion of overweight children and adolescents in the school context, in light of the Galway Consensus through an integrative review. Articles published between 1988 and June, 2013 were found in the databases CINAHL, SCOPUS, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS and SciELO. A total of 139 publications were obtained from indexed descriptors. Ten articles were selected after reading. The most evident competencies for health promotion were: catalyzing change, needs assessment and impact assessment. The highlights were activities of health education and partnerships with other health professionals and the families of students. It was found that the skills of health promotion developed by nurses can contribute to the adoption of healthy habits by overweight children and adolescents.
Contemporary Issues in Nursing : Epidemic of Child Obesity
Middle East Journal of Nursing, 2013
As an opportunity is given to develop and give a literature review individually that would inspect a current and existing issue in nursing and health care this paper will provide an opportunity to gain current knowledge and capability in relation to a present-day problem, that is existing in society requiring fact-based nursing involvement. Conclusion: Once the findings are complete, the preventive measures carried out to control the negative impacts of it on the children, especially occurring in Australia, are elaborated on. This would not only affect the economic factor of the country but also the health related issues that would or might rise in future.
Child healthcare nurses’ encounters with parents whose child is overweight
Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 2019
Nurses in the Swedish child healthcare system can make a difference by offering support to parents of children who are overweight or at risk of becoming so. Still, research concerning these nurses’ clinical practice when encountering parents whose child is overweight is inadequate. The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ clinical practice when encountering parents of an overweight child. Data were collected through interviews with 10 nurses, and a content analysis approach was used. The nurses’ clinical practice is described in relation to Olander’s theory: Individualising actions, Creating a dialogue, Documenting, and Focusing on normality. This study adds knowledge about nurses’ clinical practice in encounters with parents whose child is overweight. Also, it adds information on how an issue in a specific care situation may contribute to further understanding and use of an existing theory in caring science.
Looking at school nurses' roles in tackling overweight and obesity
British Journal of School Nursing, 2014
Obesity is a global issue and school nurses across the world can play an important role in preventing and reducing overweight and obesity in school-aged children and young people. This article provides an overview of their multi-faceted role.