Public health nurses' experiences following up children with overweight and obesity according to national guidelines. A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop knowledge of how the follow-up regarding overweight and obesity among children in primary school is experienced by the PHN and how the guidelines may be used to improve health services in this follow-up. METHODS: We analysed semi-structured interviews of 9 PHNs using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Two themes emerged: Following up with children with overweight and obesity is an important but challenging duty; The PHNs call for clearer guidelines. Following five sub-themes: PHNs strive to adhere to the guidelines, show compassion in the follow-up, have difficulty handling parents' feelings and reactions, feel alone with the responsibility, and have suggestions for clearer guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: PHNs call for enough resources to communicate the results of the child's weight in a sufficient form. PHNs and families should establish common goals. The PHN should avoid one-way communication but meet the parents' concerns and needs. This requires the PHN to focus on building a secure relation to the child and the families, as described by Peplau. Guidelines must include instructions and tools on how to communicate and meet the family's concerns. Political action and increased funding could strengthen the follow-up and thereby prevent more obesity among children, which can be a predictor of poorer health outcomes later in life.

Struggling with overweight or obesity in children - fathers' perceptions and experiences of contributing factors, role and responsibility.

PURPOSE: The family environment is crucial in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity; however, there is a lack of knowledge concerning paternal perceptions and experiences in childhood weight management. The aim of this study was to explore (i) perceptions of contributing factors to childhood overweight and obesity among fathers of children with overweight or obesity and (ii) the fathers' experiences of their parental role caring for a child with overweight or obesity. METHOD: A qualitative content analysis was conducted of data from semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight Norwegian fathers of ten children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. RESULTS: The analysis identified one overall theme; Feeling uncertain and struggling to understand their own responsibility for the child's overweight or obesity, which consists of two themes; 1)Trying hard to figure out the child's obesity as a complex interaction of factors and 2)Family functioning-negotiating roles and responsibility in parenthood. CONCLUSION: Fathers must be met with understanding about their uncertainty and their struggle to understand their individual responsibility for their child's weight excess. It can be necessary to address the significance of family functioning, collaboration, responsibility within the familiy in addition to structural responsibility in clinical dialogues and counselling in order to help with weight management.

Parents' Experiences Using Digital Health Technologies in Paediatric Overweight and Obesity Support: An Integrative Review.

This study aimed to explore parents' perspectives regarding the use of digital health technologies in paediatric overweight and obesity weight support. A systematic search in 'Academic Search Premier', 'British Nursing Index', 'Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health', and 'Health Research Premium Collection' was conducted in November 2021. Inclusion criteria were English or Nordic peer-reviewed articles published after 2010, overweight and obese children aged 2-10, weight support using digital health technologies, and parental experiences examined. An integrative review was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute quality appraisal checklists and a constant comparison analysis method. In total, 14 articles were analysed that included SMS, telephone, apps, websites, and social media as the main technology groups. A limitation of this review was the heterogenicity of the studies. The results indicate that parents, mostly mothers, had a positive experience, finding technologies helpful and easy to use, and expressed optimism toward future use. An option for interacting with others and the possibility of personalising support were enjoyed or requested. In conclusion, digital health technologies can be a suitable tool to empower the parents of children with overweight and obesity concerns, whose perspective should be considered during the design and support phases.