title: Proper Exercise and Nutrition kit: use of obesity screening and assessment tools with underserved populations.
abstract: Additional efforts are needed to assist public health, school, and clinic-based pediatric nurses in identifying the prevalence of obesity among Kansas Medicaid-eligible children, 21 years or younger. A Proper Exercise and Nutrition (PEN) tool kit was mailed to 500 public health nurses who performed KAN Be Healthy (KBH) assessments. KBH nurses were provided an expanded training curriculum on growth, nutrition, and obesity along with appropriate screening tools. Nurses were surveyed about their current assessment practices and general knowledge of obese clients. After the PEN tool kit distribution, nurses reported an increased use of screening tools and standardized referral parameters. This program intervention was successful in changing nursing practice, resulting in evidence-based understanding of obesity screening and assessment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Continuing Education, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 66614, USA. mkopp@cox.net
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hornberger
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education; D002983:Clinical Competence; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D015444:Exercise; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires