Nursing: promoting the health of overweight children and adolescents in the school context

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the nursing interventions related to the competencies of health promotion of overweight children and adolescents in the school context, in light of the Galway Consensus through an integrative review. Articles published between 1988 and June, 2013 were found in the databases CINAHL, SCOPUS, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS and SciELO. A total of 139 publications were obtained from indexed descriptors. Ten articles were selected after reading. The most evident competencies for health promotion were: catalyzing change, needs assessment and impact assessment. The highlights were activities of health education and partnerships with other health professionals and the families of students. It was found that the skills of health promotion developed by nurses can contribute to the adoption of healthy habits by overweight children and adolescents.

Nursing care of overweight children: A concept analysis

“…One study pointed out the need to use theoretical frameworks for planning health promotion interventions with overweight children . This is in keeping with current global indicatives that call for health promotion principles and theory in the curricula of health professionals for use in practice .…”

“…Changes in children's anthropometric measurements, sedentary habits, diet, physical exercise, and sleep patterns were the possible outcomes reported . Acceptance of body image and prevention of psychological and social complications were potential behavioral changes resulting from the interventions …”

Programa de Enfermagem Saúde na Escola: prevenção e controle de sobrepeso/obesidade em adolescentes,

“…In order to partially meet the needs of this population, the PSE, an intersectoral strategy for Health and Education, was created in 2007 (5) . However, it has still not been implemented in participating schools and the UBS, as noted below: What is the School Health Program?…”

“…Moreover, because adolescents rarely attend health services, the Ministries of Health and Education have created the School Health Program (Programa Saúde na Escola -PSE), to facilitate actions of PHC multiprofessional teams by assisting adolescents in their convivial space. The planned actions include (among others): an anthropometric evaluation to identify overweight or obese students and the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity (5) . With regard to nurses, they have reported difficulties in performing such actions because the implemented methods are not able to attract adolescent participation, and because professionals are unaware of the required actions to prevent and control overweight or obesity (3) .…”

Competências do enfermeiro na promoção da saúde de indivíduos com cardiopatias crônicas

“…This consensus pointed values and principles, a common definition and eight domains of core competencies required for effective engagement in health promotion practices. The domains are: 1) Catalyzing change; 2) Leadership; 3) Evaluation; 4) Planning; 5) Implementation; 6) Assessment; 7) Advocacy; and 8) Partnerships (5)(6)(7) .…”