Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Committee Chair

Sharon Starr

Abstract

Childhood obesity has become a significant national health issue due to rising incidences and associated chronic medical conditions. School nurses across the United States of America are in prime positions to address childhood obesity as they have access to large numbers of children and adolescents in school settings. A review of current literature demonstrated that school nurses were overall knowledgeable concerning childhood obesity, but encountered numerous barriers in enacting weight-related assessments and treatment programs. The purpose of this research study was to determine the knowledge, opinions, perceptions, and practice measures of South Carolina school nurses regarding childhood obesity. The "School Nurses' Perceptions of Childhood Obesity Tool" questionnaire was sent electronically to school nurses in South Carolina. Results from the questionnaire indicated that school nurses in South Carolina understood the causes and negative health effects of childhood obesity. Despite this awareness, the school nurses were not actively conducting weight status screenings or developing weight management programs for students.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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