Characteristics Associated With School Nurse Childhood Obesity Prevention Practices

Abstract

Nearly one-third of children in the United States (U.S.) are overweight or obese and at a higher risk for numerous comorbidities. School nurses are ideally positioned to contribute to strategic childhood obesity prevention (COP) efforts, but there are substantial variations with their involvement in COP practices. The research question posed was: “Are personal, professional, and/or job-related characteristics associated with school nurse engagement in child-level or school-level childhood obesity prevention practices?” In this descriptive cross-sectional study, Florida school nurses (N = 171) were recruited via email and two professional conferences to complete an anonymous online or paper survey. Items included questions about various characteristics and how often they performed certain COP practices. Engagement in COP practices was measured on a Likert-type scale with response options of 1 = never; 2 = rarely; 3 = sometimes; 4 = often. Data analyses included correlations, t tests, and ANOVA to determine associations between personal, professional, and job-related characteristics with child-level and school-level school nurse COP practices. Significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between school nurse COP practices and professional characteristics that indicated additional education (i.e., highest nursing degree, COP education, professional organization membership, and national certified school nurse certification). The number of students provided care, age, years in current position, and experience as a nurse and school nurse positively correlated to child-level COP practices, while socioeconomic levels of school(s) were inversely correlated to these practices. Findings support the need for funding and providing additional COP educational opportunities to increase school nurse involvement in preventing childhood obesity.

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Publication Title

Pediatric Nursing

Volume

43

Issue

4

Number of Pages

193-199

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

85061936046 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85061936046

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