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Development and feasibility of a child obesity prevention intervention in general practice: the Healthy 4 Life pilot
Elizabeth Denney-Wilson1, Alison Robinson, Rachel Laws
1Faculty of Health, University of Technology, UNSW, Victoria, Australia; UNSW Research Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, UNSW, Victoria, Australia; COMPaRE-PHC, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
A pilot study found that practice nurses can deliver a brief obesity prevention intervention to parents of preschoolers. Training and resources enabled nurses to integrate healthy lifestyle advice into routine check-ups, though time constraints were noted.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Preventive Medicine
- General Practice
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern, with 20% of Australian preschoolers being overweight.
- Primary care settings offer opportunities for early identification and intervention in unhealthy weight gain.
- Practice nurses play a vital role in delivering health advice to families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and assess the feasibility of a practice nurse-led brief intervention for childhood obesity prevention.
- To integrate the 'Healthy 4 Life' intervention into routine 'healthy kid's checks' within general practice.
- To evaluate the incorporation of intervention components and identify barriers and facilitators.
Main Methods:
- A practice nurse (PN) intervention was designed based on needs assessment and literature review.
- Four PNs received training and resources to deliver the intervention during healthy kid's checks.
- Feasibility was assessed through medical record review and PN interviews.
Main Results:
- All participating nurses incorporated elements of the 'Healthy 4 Life' intervention.
- Body mass index was calculated for all children; healthy eating advice was given in 60% of consultations.
- Nurses found the intervention feasible but noted time constraints as a concern for both nurses and parents.
Conclusions:
- Brief training and resources can empower general practice nurses to deliver obesity prevention interventions to parents.
- Further research is needed to evaluate the intervention's impact on parent and child behaviors.
- The sustainability of such interventions for practice nurses requires further investigation.
Aim:
Approximately 20% of Australian pre-school children are overweight. Primary care providers have a crucial role in identifying children at risk of unhealthy weight gain and to offer advice and suggestions to parents. The Healthy 4 Life pilot study aimed to develop and test the feasibility of a practice nurse (PN)-led brief intervention into a healthy kid's check in general practice.
Methods:
A PN intervention was developed based on a needs assessment and existing literature. A workshop was conducted, and resources were provided to enable four PNs to deliver a brief obesity prevention intervention to parents. Nurses then incorporated the Healthy 4 Life components into the healthy kid's checks they conducted on the next 10 children. Medical records were reviewed and nurses interviewed to establish the feasibility of the intervention.
Results:
All of the nurses incorporated some Healthy 4 Life components into their healthy kid's checks. Body mass index was calculated and plotted for all children, and advice around healthy eating was offered in 60% of consultations; however, advice about limiting screen time provided in only 2% of consultations. Nurses reported that the intervention fitted well with their current practice, although time constraints were a concern for some nurses and some parents.
Conclusion:
The provision of a brief training workshop and resources can equip nurses in general practice to offer an obesity prevention intervention to parents of young children. Further research is required to examine the impact of such an intervention on parent and child behaviours and the sustainability of such practices for PNs.
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