Date of Conferral
8-6-2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Andrea Jennings
Abstract
This doctoral project seeks to bridge the existing knowledge gap in using Metformin to manage childhood obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome. The primary goal was to develop a complete toolkit to educate healthcare providers on utilizing Metformin in obese children with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, characterized by higher triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, and increased waist circumference, offers considerable health hazards for children. The practice-focused question is, Is the toolkit deemed useful to providers for treating obesity in children with metabolic syndrome using metformin?” The project employed the theory of planned behavior, a guiding framework to support healthcare providers in implementing evidence-based strategies for addressing obesity in children with metabolic syndrome. Six nurse experts evaluated the toolkit by completing a survey to assess its usefulness. All agreed or strongly agreed that toolkit was useful to their current professional needs, they would feel empowered to implement the recommendation into their professional practice, and that guidelines were clear and would assist them in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity in children with metabolic syndrome. All strongly agreed that the content reflected the learning objectives. Implications for social change involve decreasing obesity in children with metabolic syndrome, reducing the load on healthcare systems, lowering healthcare expenses connected to obesity-related disorders, and improving the general health and well-being of affected children and their families.
Recommended Citation
Mayers-Scott, Karen, "A Toolkit for Treating Obesity in Children with Metabolic Syndrome" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18196.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18196
