School-based nurses can help in the prevention of school-based obesity through interventions. Due to their qualifications, accessibility to the learners and the functional relationship between them and the families of the children, school nurses may be perceived as a critical tool in fighting against obesity in schools. Some of the measures used are such as the introduction of Health Option and Physical Activity Program which have in the recent years reported a massive success in significantly decreasing the weight of obese students participating. This is because the programs concentrate on critical healthy eating behaviors.
Additionally, the Let’s Go initiative has also helped prevent obesity amongst children in the community. However, these individuals are faced with problems that hinder them from adequately performing their duties in the intervention against obesity (Schroeder & Smaldone, 2017). The study aims to investigate the relation between the participation of parents in the interventions and the rate of success. Since parents are the individuals responsible for the nutritional needs of the children, it is prudent to involve them in the interventions. Parents are a critical component of the problem of obesity in children and should thus be active participators in the school-based and community-based measures.
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Method
The research was conducted over a random sample of 19 nurses where eight themes were some recognized. Some of the limitations investigated included the participation of parents, heavy nurse workload, obesogenic environments, and stigmatization in the society. Schroeder & Smaldone (2017) asserts that “The methods used in the intervention were all approved by the Institutional review boards of Columbia University Medical Center, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the NYC Department of Education.” The nurses were recruited from three diverse boroughs of NYC to ensure diversity in the interventions programs concerning size, student population, and community. The nurses were interviewed on their experience in the field so far and some of the challenges they have faced as individuals.
Findings
The recruitment of nurses intended to acquire 31 nurses although only 19 were available for the study. The main reason as to why the other failed to participate was due to the failure to respond to the recruitment emails sent to them. The study revealed that the school administration often pressured nurses not to apply for the HOP programs on the obese students to avoid the peril of upsetting parents. Nonetheless, one nurse admits to having a supportive principal who encourages the use of HOP within the institution (Schroeder & Smaldone, 2017). The data obtained revealed that in some other cases, the school administration might be in support of the intervention methods applied, but the student’s parents protest the participation of their children.
The nurses interviewed expressed the need for corporation amongst all stakeholders. The nurses stated that parents and school personnel are vital aspects of making the HOP intervention impactful. The study also portrayed that some principals assisted the nurses in overcoming the challenges through talking to parents and students on the relevance of the HOP measures on the health of students. The nurses attested that although some parents were against the interventions, there were those who comprehended the usefulness of the programs and supported them.
Conclusion
The study revealed that nurses in schools faced a significant barrier in implementing the obesity intervention programs. One of the notable hindrances is the lack of support from both the school administration and the parents of the students. Despite the opposition faced, nurses have been observed to apply more creative methods in implementing the intervention programs within the institutions. Schroeder & Smaldone (2017) states that “With awareness of potential barriers and facilitators, feasible school nurse-led obesity interventions can be developed, implemented, and evaluated with the aim of reducing childhood obesity and supporting student health.” The participation of the administration and the parents of the children living with obesity are a vital determinant of the success of the nurse-based intervention methods applied to curb obesity in the community.
Reference
Schroeder, K., & Smaldone, A. (2017). What Barriers and Facilitators Do School Nurses Experience When Implementing an Obesity Intervention? The Journal of School Nursing , 33 (6), 456-466. doi:10.1177/1059840517694967
