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Barriers and Facilitators of Pediatric Obesity Prevention and Management (POPM) Programs in Korea: Focusing on the
Sujin Park1, Hyo Seon Jeong2, Young-Min Noh2
1Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Pediatric obesity prevention programs in South Korea face challenges due to weak institutional links and low student participation. Improving collaboration and support is crucial for effective pediatric obesity prevention and management (POPM).
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Health Policy
Background:
- Rising pediatric obesity rates in South Korea present significant public health challenges.
- Effective community-level pediatric obesity prevention and management (POPM) programs require understanding operational barriers and facilitators.
- This study provides a foundation for policy development in Korean POPM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify barriers and facilitators for effective pediatric obesity prevention and management (POPM) programs in South Korea.
- To inform policy implementation for POPM initiatives.
- To understand the current landscape of POPM program operations.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide survey of 577 program providers in schools and public health centers.
- Questionnaire assessed respondent characteristics, program details, outcome measurement, institutional linkage, difficulties, and facilitators.
- Descriptive statistics and Likert scale analysis were used to evaluate program operations and linkages.
Main Results:
- Actual institutional and inter-professional linkage in POPM programs is low compared to perceived importance.
- Key operational difficulties include securing student availability, engaging reluctant students, and program development.
- Schools need parental/guardian support; public health centers require professional providers.
Conclusions:
- Weak institutional linkages are a major barrier to effective pediatric obesity prevention and management (POPM) in South Korea.
- Addressing challenges in student participation and program innovation is essential.
- Developing harmonious inter-institutional partnerships and implementing evidence-based policies are critical for preventing childhood obesity.
Background:
Recent global trends indicate a rise in pediatric obesity, reflecting patterns also observed in South Korea. Given its significant impact on chronic disease prevalence in adulthood, pediatric obesity poses potential societal challenges. For pediatric obesity-related prevention or management programs in community level to operate effectively, there needs to be a clear understanding of barriers and facilitators of the programs. This study aims to establish a foundation for policy implementation, contributing to pediatric obesity prevention and management (POPM) in Korea.
Methods:
A survey was conducted among program providers involved in domestic POPM programs. A total of 577 individuals completed the survey, including those working in elementary and middle schools (n = 508) and public health centers (n = 69) nationwide. The questionnaire comprised 67 questions covering characteristics of respondents, purpose and contents of POPM programs, measurement of program outcome, level of inter- and intra-institutional linkage, difficulties in operating programs and factors that facilitate programs. A 5-point Likert scale was used for most questions. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze characteristics of respondents in POPM programs. The level of linkage in POPM programs was assessed using perceived importance and actual degree of linkage. The difficulties in operating POPM programs were analyzed based on agreement responses, and facilitating factors of program activation were analyzed based on importance responses.
Results:
The domestic POPM program showed low actual linkage compared to its perceived importance, both between institutions and among professions within institutions. Difficulties in operating the program included securing availability of students, encouraging participation of reluctant students and development of new programs. The survey suggested that schools require support from parents, guardians and family members, while public health centers need professional providers to facilitate such programs.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the urgent need for strategies to address pediatric obesity in South Korea. Weak institutional linkages hinder effective programs. Challenges include student availability, participation, and the need for innovative programs. New approaches to build partnerships in harmony among institutions are necessary. Implementing findings into policy can help prevent obesity in Korean children and adolescents.
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