Date Available
4-29-2016
Year of Publication
2016
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advisor
Dr. Sharon Lock
Committee Member
Dr. Elizabeth Tovar
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Norma Ginter
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the current practices of providers for overweight and obese children at well visits, and how the demographics of age, sex, race, ethnicity, primary language spoken, insurance type, and provider type influence the care provided to overweight and obese children at the study site, which is a rural primary care clinic in eastern Kentucky.
Methods: This study is a retrospective design auditing well child charts (n = 571) from the study site over a two year period. Charts were audited for the data points of age, sex, race, ethnicity, primary spoken language, body mass index, documentation of a diagnosis of overweight or obesity, and if those diagnosed with as overweight or obese received education specific to their diagnoses or a dietician referral. Body-mass-index percentile and weight classification were calculated for each participant. Data points were statistically analyzed to identify possible causes and/or influences of demographics on the care provided to overweight and obese children.
Results: No statistically significant relationships were found between extracted data points and the screening, diagnosing, and treatment of overweight and obese children. However, the data revealed low rates of calculating BMI (screening) during well visits at 80.6%, extremely low rates of documenting a diagnosis of overweight and obesity (4.8%) and extremely low rates of providing appropriate education (45.5%) and dietician referral (0%) to those diagnosed as overweight or obese.
Conclusion: While no statistically significant relationships between extracted data points and provider practices for the screening, diagnosing, and treatment of overweight and obese children at well child visits were present, a need for improvement in provider practices in alignment with expert recommendations and clinical practice guidelines for the overweight and obese child exists.
Recommended Citation
Healy, Ashley R., "A Study of Provider Practices in the Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in a Rural Eastern Kentucky Clinic" (2016). DNP Projects. 83.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/dnp_etds/83
