Quasi-Experimental Quantitative Pilot Study Into

¶ … quasi-experimental quantitative pilot study into the prevention of further weight gain in overweight schoolchildren. More specifically, the study consisted of involving school nurses in weight gain prevention activities in children who were already overweight in order to determine whether school nursing involvement is an effective means of improving childhood obesity prevention efforts. The study demonstrated that school nursing intervention is one possible means for preventing further weight gain and reducing obesity in children (Melin & Lenner, 2009). However, the concept was much less effective than it might be in principle, because of the way that it was implemented. Likewise, the study was relatively ineffective for several reasons having to do with its inherent limitations and fundamental design and methods.

Research Design and Methodology

The year-long study consisted of twenty grade school students from thirteen different schools, representing those students whose families agreed to participate from a larger group of thirty-five students (Melin & Lenner, 2009). The average age of subjects was seven years of age. The researchers used data from the group of nineteen students whose families did not consent to participation in the study as a form of control group or "reference point" for comparison (Melin & Lenner, 2009).

Initially, the researchers presented the program to thirty-five families. It consisted of a year-long arrangement whereby students would regularly meet with school nurses to discuss issues about their diet, in conjunction with increased attention to dietetic issues in the home and increased physical activity (Melin & Lenner, 2009). After a year, the subjects were evaluated in terms of objective quantifiable data in the form of their body mass index (BMI) as well as in terms of qualitative issues such as the attitudes, outlook, and level of satisfaction, body image, and anger levels of the student subjects.

Study Limitations

There were several limitations to this study. First, it utilized subjects purely on the basis of their families consenting to participate after one presentation instead of establishing more stringent participation criteria to ensure high rates of adherence to the program. As a result, only one-third of the participants actually fulfilled their role during the course of the year (Melin & Lenner, 2009). Typically, parents failed to appear at previously arranged joint meetings with the nurses and their children; likewise, two-thirds of the subjects failed to complete all of the elements of the program as expected. Second, the fact that the subjects grew and developed physiologically during the period of the study complicated reliance on BMI as a measure of outcomes. Third, the prospect of stigmatization associated with participation proved to be a barrier to full participation. In that regard, most of the student subjects reported negative responses on the part of classmates and peers (Melin & Lenner, 2009).

Results, Relevance, and Implications

Overall, those subjects who adhered to the entire program did exhibit positive results by reducing their BMI after factoring in their normal physiological growth (Melin & Lenner, 2009). In principle, the study demonstrated that school nursing intervention can play an important role in reducing childhood obesity (Melin & Lenner, 2009). The study is highly relevant to human health and disease because of the increasing obesity rate in society, childhood obesity, the link between obesity and other serious health concerns, and the link between childhood obesity and adult obesity.