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Parental attitudes toward obesity and overweight screening and communication for hospitalized children.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bradford, K; Kihlstrom, M; Pointer, I; Skinner, AC; Slivka, P; Perrin, EM
Published in: Hosp Pediatr
July 2012

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have evaluated BMI screening, communication, and follow-up recommendations in the outpatient setting. However, few studies have examined parental attitudes toward using the inpatient setting as a time to screen and counsel families regarding their child's BMI. We sought to study parental attitudes about overweight and obesity screening in the inpatient setting. METHODS: Parents (N= 101) of children aged 2 to 18 years admitted to a general pediatric hospital or surgical service were queried regarding their attitudes about screening and counseling for overweight and obesity. Children's age, gender, height, weight, and diagnosis codes were extracted from electronic medical records and billing databases. BMI was calculated, plotted, and categorized according to standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts and expert recommendation. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of children in the study were overweight, and 17% were obese. Parents of overweight and obese children underestimated their child's weight status 68% of the time. The majority believed admitted children should always have their BMI calculated. Almost all parents (90%) indicated that their inpatient physician should inform them if their child were overweight or obese and that primary care providers should be informed of the results of BMI screening. CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children admitted to the hospital believed their children should have their BMI screened. If their child was overweight or obese, parents believed they should be informed, and counseling should be initiated. These findings support using the inpatient time to screen and communicate BMI.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Hosp Pediatr

DOI

ISSN

2154-1663

Publication Date

July 2012

Volume

2

Issue

3

Start / End Page

126 / 132

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Patient Admission
  • Parents
  • Overweight
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child, Hospitalized
  • Child
  • Body Mass Index
  • Attitude to Health
 

Citation

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Bradford, K., Kihlstrom, M., Pointer, I., Skinner, A. C., Slivka, P., & Perrin, E. M. (2012). Parental attitudes toward obesity and overweight screening and communication for hospitalized children. Hosp Pediatr, 2(3), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2011-0036
Bradford, Kathleen, Margaret Kihlstrom, Ivy Pointer, Asheley Cockrell Skinner, Petr Slivka, and Eliana M. Perrin. “Parental attitudes toward obesity and overweight screening and communication for hospitalized children.Hosp Pediatr 2, no. 3 (July 2012): 126–32. https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2011-0036.
Bradford K, Kihlstrom M, Pointer I, Skinner AC, Slivka P, Perrin EM. Parental attitudes toward obesity and overweight screening and communication for hospitalized children. Hosp Pediatr. 2012 Jul;2(3):126–32.
Bradford, Kathleen, et al. “Parental attitudes toward obesity and overweight screening and communication for hospitalized children.Hosp Pediatr, vol. 2, no. 3, July 2012, pp. 126–32. Pubmed, doi:10.1542/hpeds.2011-0036.
Bradford K, Kihlstrom M, Pointer I, Skinner AC, Slivka P, Perrin EM. Parental attitudes toward obesity and overweight screening and communication for hospitalized children. Hosp Pediatr. 2012 Jul;2(3):126–132.

Published In

Hosp Pediatr

DOI

ISSN

2154-1663

Publication Date

July 2012

Volume

2

Issue

3

Start / End Page

126 / 132

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Patient Admission
  • Parents
  • Overweight
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child, Hospitalized
  • Child
  • Body Mass Index
  • Attitude to Health