title: Evaluation of child health matters: a web-based tutorial to enhance school nurses' communications with families about weight-related health.
abstract: The goal of the current study was to assess the efficacy and acceptability of a web-based tutorial (Child Health Matters, CHM) designed to improve school nurses' communications with families about pediatric weight-related health issues. Using a randomized wait-list control design, a nationally representative sample of school nurses was assigned to immediate or delayed access conditions. Pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments of knowledge, barriers to providing obesity treatment, and intended practices were conducted. Results indicated that, relative to wait-list controls, immediate-access nurses demonstrated significant increases in knowledge and decreases in perceived barriers to discussing weight-related health, and significantly greater intentions to assess physical activity, and to recommend dietary changes and physical activity. Wait-list nurses demonstrated significant within-group improvements after completing CHM. Nurses reported a high degree of satisfaction with CHM. Results suggest that web-based tutorials can effect changes in nurses' knowledge, perceived barriers, and intended practices with regard to weight-related health care.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States. rsteele@ku.edu
authors.forename: Ric G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Yelena P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cushing
authors.forename: Chad D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003142:Communication; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012573:School Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult