ERIC Number: EJ885164
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-8405
EISSN: N/A
Perceptions of School Nurses regarding Obesity in School-Age Children
Moyers, Pamela; Bugle, Linda; Jackson, Elaine
Journal of School Nursing, v21 n2 p86-93 2005
Obesity is epidemic in the nation's school-age population with African American and Hispanic children and adolescents specifically at risk. School nurses at elementary and middle public schools in the Missouri 8th Congressional District were surveyed regarding their perceptions of childhood obesity. School nurses supported preventive interventions and were knowledgeable of the risks of childhood obesity but were less accepting of treatment and counseling for obese children in the school setting. One third of the school nurses did not recommend treatment for weight loss, and half of the nurses provided overweight children with counseling and referral only when parents asked for help. Perceptions of school nurses regarding childhood obesity identified in this study included the following: (a) counseling for obesity is difficult, (b) parental support is lacking, and (c) competence in providing counseling is low. These perceptions are barriers to school nurses taking a more active role in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Obesity, School Nurses, Child Health, Body Composition, Adolescents, At Risk Persons, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, Attitude Measures, Prevention, Intervention, Knowledge Level, Counseling, School Health Services, Parent Participation, Competence, Barriers, Racial Differences, Minority Groups, Surveys, Health Behavior, School Role
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Missouri
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A