Use of diabetes technologies in the primary school environment: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review is to map the literature on the use of diabetes technologies in the primary school environment by children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and/or their parents. INTRODUCTION: T1D is a complex chronic disorder that is one of the fastest growing diseases in childhood. Technological advances in recent times have seen a growth in the use of diabetes technologies. Despite these advances, having T1D still creates challenges for parents' and children's school experiences. Furthermore, the literature on the use of diabetes technologies during the primary school day is under-investigated. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will consider peer-reviewed primary research studies or systematic reviews that include children with T1D aged 6 to 12 years who use diabetes technologies in the primary school environment and/or their parents. METHODS: This review will be conducted in accordance with JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Following an initial limited search, a full search strategy was developed using index terms and key text words. This strategy will be used across relevant databases, including Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and Web of Science Core Collection for the full scoping review. There will be no limitations on language or year. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles and extract relevant data using the JBI data extraction instrument. Data will be presented in a descriptive manner, supported by tables and charts, and accompanied by a narrative summary.

Assessment and management of scalds and burns in children.

In childhood, burn or scald injuries are comparatively common, and the greatest risk is to infants and toddlers. The extent and severity of injuries can vary greatly, which can significantly affect recovery and outcome. To provide high quality nursing care to the child who has sustained a burn injury and the family, the children's nurse should understand the pathophysiology of the trauma and the associated physical and psychological suffering. Evidence-based nursing management of these aspects is an essential component of recovery. Children's nurses working in hospitals, schools or in the community can engage with parents, families, school staff and children to provide information, advice, and health and safety promotion for burn prevention.

The relationship between body mass index and health-related quality of life in urban disadvantaged children.

INTRODUCTION: The study's aim was to establish, for children living in urban disadvantage, the nature and extent of the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including the role of individual and family factors in influencing this relationship. METHODS: Within the context of a longitudinal design, 255 children aged 7-12 years (50 % male) self-reported their HRQoL (Kidscreen-27) and had their height and weight measured at year one and two. One parent/guardian for each child was also assessed at year one with the OSLO Social Support Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Regression analysis was also conducted. RESULTS: BMI was weakly inversely associated with 'total HRQoL' (r = -.15, p < .05), 'physical well-being' and 'autonomy and parent relations'. Significant differences were found between normal weight and obese children on all but the latter dimension. Neither weight group, however, fell below the average European HRQoL range. BMI predicted physical well-being a year later and vice versa, whilst autonomy and parent relations also predicted BMI a year later. In terms of 'overweight' children (38 %), those approaching adolescence had poorer physical and school well-being than younger children, and those whose parents had moderate-to-severe levels of depression fared worse on school well-being than children whose parents were not depressed. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that obesity programmes could aim to prevent/reduce obesity and optimise HRQoL in urban disadvantaged preadolescent children whilst also targeting parental mental health difficulties. Future research should examine mediators of the effect of BMI on HRQoL.

Measuring and modelling body mass index among a cohort of urban children living with disadvantage.

AIM: To report on baseline outcomes of body mass index, eating habits and physical activity of a cohort of urban disadvantaged children from a longitudinal evaluation of a school based, health promoting initiative. BACKGROUND: The healthy schools programme was developed for implementation in schools located in disadvantaged areas of Dublin, Ireland. DESIGN: A prospective, cohort study design was implemented. METHOD: A 3-year longitudinal evaluation was conducted in five intervention and two comparison schools between 2009-2011. Data were collected on each participating child to determine their eating habits, levels of physical activity and body mass index at year 1 (baseline), year 2 and year 3. Independent t-tests were used to compare mean values, chi-square and Fishers exact tests were used to compare proportions at baseline. RESULTS: Participation rates were over 50%. Older children reported eating on average more fruit and vegetables than younger children; breakfast was often eaten on the way to, or in school and in one age group 16.7% of intervention children reported they did not eat breakfast that day. Levels of physical activity varied with over 70% of younger children stating they never played a sport. In intervention schools over one quarter of all children were either overweight or obese. A comparison was conducted between the proportion of 9-year olds overweight and obese in our disadvantaged cohort and a national random sample of 8500 9-year olds and no important differences were observed. CONCLUSION: Baseline results indicate that body mass index rates particularly among pre adolescent, urban disadvantaged girls are of concern.

Baseline results of the first healthy schools evaluation among a community of young, Irish, urban disadvantaged children and a comparison of outcomes with international norms.

BACKGROUND: In 2008, the Irish Government initiated a pilot Healthy Schools Programme based on the World Health Organization Health Promoting Schools Model among children attending schools officially designated as urban and disadvantaged. We present here the first results on physical and emotional health and the relationship between childhood depression and demographic and socioeconomic factors. METHODS: The Healthy Schools Programme evaluation was a 3-year longitudinal outcome study among urban disadvantaged children aged 4 to 12 years. Physical and psychological health outcomes were measured using validated, international instruments at baseline. Outcomes at baseline were compared with international norms and where differences were found, results were statistically modeled to determine factors predicting poor outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 552 children responded at baseline, representing over 50% of all eligible children available to participate from 7 schools. Findings at baseline revealed that in general, children did not differ significantly from international norms. However, detailed analysis of the childhood depression scores revealed that in order of importance, psychological well-being, the school environment, social support, and peer relations and age were statistically significant predictors of increased childhood depression in children under 12 years of age. CONCLUSION: Future health and well-being studies in schools among urban disadvantaged children need to broaden their scope to include measures of depression in children under 12 years of age and be cognisant of the impact of the school environment on the mental and emotional health of the very young.

What are pre-registration nurses taught about caring for children?

Nurse education curricula have to be continually reviewed to ensure that content remains applicable to contemporary healthcare developments. In this article, the authors report the findings of a research study that investigated the children's nursing component taught in all non-children's BSc Nursing degree programmes in Irish colleges. The aim of the study was to identify how European Union directives and national curriculum guidelines are interpreted in colleges, and to clarify the preparation that non-children's pre-registration nursing students receive with respect to caring for children. The authors explored aspects related to children's nursing in all non-children's undergraduate pre-registration programmes, including curriculum content and its delivery, assessments and practice experiences. Data were collected by a specifically designed questionnaire based on the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Education Programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2005a; b). A university ethics committee provided ethical approval. The response rate was 54% (n=7), and data were analysed using SPSS 16 and content analysis. The authors' findings illustrated that the requirements and standards of all nursing programmes are interpreted in a variety of ways regarding children's nursing. Nationally, nursing content related to children needs to be reviewed in all nursing programmes to ensure consistency among providers. Healthcare requirements for children and families need to be heightened within curricula for all disciplines.

The lived experiences of newly qualified children's nurses.

AIM: This paper reports a study that explored the lived experiences of newly qualified registered children's nurses (RCN) in their transition from postgraduate student nurse to staff nurse. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the experiences of newly qualified RCNs in their transition from postgraduate student nurse to staff nurse? METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological approach was chosen for the study and six newly qualified RCNs were interviewed. Data analysis was based on the work of Coliazzi (1978) who devised a seven-step approach to assist the analysis within phenomenological inquiry. RESULTS: Findings indicate that support is the most important aspect of the transition experience for these nurses. Mentorship and preceptorship programmes facilitate support during the transition period and previous experience prescribes the amount of support required by the newly qualified RCN. CONCLUSION: In highlighting the experiences of newly qualified RCNs in their transition from postgraduate student nurse to staff nurse, this study raises awareness among children's nurses, children's nurse educators and children's nursing managers about this unique group of nurses.

Helping to alleviate pain for children having venepuncture.

This article reviews the literature on venepuncture and children. The evidence on the use of topical agents namely tetracaine (amethocaine) gel and lidocaine/prilocaine cream is discussed, along with the use and benefits of distraction techniques and parental presence to make this an easier procedure for the child, their families and the nurse.