title: Are School Nurses an Overlooked Resource in Reducing Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schools are a key setting for childhood obesity interventions, yet nurses are not often included in delivering these interventions. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine school-based interventions involving nurses in a role beyond anthropometric measurement for effect on change in body measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of these papers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature search produced 2412 articles. Eleven met inclusion criteria for the systematic review (4 randomized controlled trail [RCT], 7 quasi-experimental) and 8 for the meta-analysis. None have been included in prior meta-analyses. Four studies restricted eligibility to overweight and/or obese children; 7 included all children regardless of body weight. Random effects meta-analytic models represent data from 6050 (body mass index [BMI]), 5863 (BMIz), and 416 (BMI percentile) children, respectively. Pooled analyses demonstrated statistically significant decreases in BMI (6 studies: -0.48 [95% CI -0.84, -0.12]; I(2) =91.2%, Q=68.1), BMIz (5 studies: -0.10 [95% CI: -0.15, -0.05]; I(2) =0, Q=2.3), and BMI percentile (3 studies: -0.41 [95% CI: -0.60, -0.21]; I(2) =0, Q=2.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are similar to those of other meta-analyses of school-based interventions and suggest that school nurses can play a key role in implementing sustainable, effective school-based obesity interventions.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, 617 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032.. ks3139@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, 617 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032.. jt2766@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Travers
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, 617 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032.. ams130@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smaldone
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: childhood obesity; meta-analysis; nurses; schools