Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Robert L. Anders
Abstract
AbstractObesity among children and adolescents has reached epidemic proportions in the United States (U.S). Nurses in pediatric settings have a critical role to play in assessing and managing childhood obesity. The partner site for this project has a childhood obesity rate of 35% compared to the national average of 19%. However, the nursing staff lacked adequate knowledge, competence, and confidence in assessing and managing childhood obesity in line with the recommended guidelines. The problem was addressed by implementing the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obesity and Overweight Children and Adolescents via an education program. The program’s content was reviewed using the Lynn model by five local clinical experts on childhood obesity. The theoretical framework guiding this project was Malcolm Knowles’s adult learning theory. Six registered nurses took part in the educational program. The pretest findings identified a mean between 2.9 to 3.3 with a mode of 3 indicating that the staff had inadequate knowledge and skills regarding obesity and overweight assessment. The posttest data depicted that the educational intervention met the lesson objectives. After the staff training program, the post staff training mean ranged from 1 to 1.2, with a mode of one indicating that the staff felt knowledgeable and confident in following the practice guidelines for assessing obesity and overweight risk factors. The project has the potential to impact nursing practice by promoting timely assessment and management of pediatric obesity based on recommended practices. Social change may occur when nurses assess pediatric patient for obesity and overweight status and educate them and their families about evidence-based weight management strategies.
Recommended Citation
Okoye, Emilia Ochiabuto, "A Staff Education Project on the Administration of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Obesity and Overweight Children and Adolescents" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14401.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14401
