Pediatric Nutrition

Biography

Biography: Catherine Christie

Abstract

Barriers, skills, and training needs among health professionals in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity were evaluated using a validated national survey. Twenty-six thousand nine hundred thirty-four Florida health professionals, including physicians, nurses, dieticians and dentists were asked to complete the survey regarding attitudes, barriers, skills, and training needs related to childhood obesity prevention and treatment. Surveys were sent via email and Survey Monkey to all health professionals. The majority of survey respondents indicated that both childhood and adolescent overweight: are conditions that need treatment (childhood: 81.4-91.9%; adolescent: 86.9-94.8%), affect future risk of chronic disease (90.7-97.5%), and affect future quality of life (91.7-97.3%). The barrier most frequently cited by health professionals as “most of time” or “often” was lack of patient involvement (84.6-91.4%). Areas most frequently cited as low proficiency were family conflicts/concerns (34.7-75.2%), use of behavioural management strategies (22.5-60.3%), and guidance in parenting technique (28.7-56.7%). Dentists had the highest percentage of low proficiency (lowest perceived proficiency) in all skills (38.3-75.2%, p<0.0083) while dieticians reported highest proficiency in use of behavioural management strategies, modification of patient diet/eating practices, modification of patient sedentary behaviour, and assessment of the degree of overweight. Health professionals were concerned about childhood obesity prevention and treatment, however, proficiency in prevention and treatment was not improved since the original national survey was published 15 years ago. There is a continued need to examine the current healthcare system to improve health professionals’ proficiency in the design and delivery of childhood obesity prevention and treatment.