(2004, p. S147) These nursing interventions can like this work stress the implementation of a program that exposes adolescents to healthier alternatives and builds the efficacy for obtaining them through successfully seeking family behavior changes and building awareness about healthier options and food costing that make such options obtainable.
What interventions have been successful and what interventions have NOT been successful?
It is clear that general nutrition education, in the schools or in the community has not been an effective intervention tool for children in general, especially given what some would consider the deplorable condition of the public school nutrition programs in most states. It is also clear that family focused interventions are rare, but where they have been tried they have proven most successful for the MA population. (Heiss, 2008, p. 475) Seeking to change the cultural understanding of obesity at the maternal and family level is likely one of the most important aspects of nursing intervention for MA adolescents
Ward offered a powerful set of options, coming from the perspective of the school nurse researcher:
By gaining a greater understanding of parental cultural beliefs and values, parenting styles, and acculturation in the Mexican-American community, the school nurse will be able to develop culturally relevant interventions for nutrition education in the school setting….Tyler (2004) explored the interest of overweight Hispanic children in making lifestyle changes to promote a healthy weight and found the children were interested in family-based interventions, such as & #8230;learning about healthy eating together as a family. School nurses should include family participation in many different school-based nutrition education programs. (2008, p. 412)
The development of an intervention plan with both short-term and long-term goals, surrounding family focused interventions is clearly the best and most logical evidentiary standard. (Tyler, 2004)
Planning
Plan Title: "Obesity Among Mexican-American Adolescents: Family Centered Nursing Intervention"
Short-Term Goal
A developed and implemented plan for an obesity prevention family intervention-based program for MA adolescents seeded in one middle school and continued in at least one community center or church. Program components include three strategies, first to introduce middle school classrooms to healthy eating through a demonstration and instructional session. Second strategy is to hold a four-week class involving families in buying, eating and cooking with better healthier options. The third aspect of the work plan will be to evaluate the outcome of the family intervention strategy.
Measurable Objectives
1. The conduction of a mini-introduction to culturally sensitive healthy eating and cooking in middle school classrooms in a single school with a high number of MA students, Cognitive
2. Enrolment of ten families with adolescents in a healthy low cost culturally sensitive healthy eating class, 8 weekly sessions. Consisting of recipes and education about alternative foods. Affective 3. Follow up questionnaire three weeks after close of class, discussing the nature of change in eating and cooking in the home, conduct by phone interview. Affective Objectives Summary
These three objectives involve the family in a change that is health related and specific to culture. The mini-introduction classes may get the individual adolescents thinking about how they cook and eat at home while the classes specifically involve the families and address the ability of the family to stretch its food dollar while still staying healthy and true to their culture. The objectives are specific, measurable, reasonable/feasible and clearly fit within the context of a community setting, they are also clearly understood and practical for the clients. The application of food buying techniques and healthier replacement options that are sensitive to culture, healthy, full of fruits and vegetables and fast and easy to make is essential to involving the family in a change action that will aide them in making better decisions in their own homes, for meals as well as bulk stored healthy snacks.
Budget
Table 1 Budget
Development+ Class Time
10 hours
Evaluation Questionnaire Phone Time
5 Hours
60
Classroom Intro Food Supplies Budget (Bulk Healthy Snacks) donated in kind from school lunch program
30 students per class x 10 classes
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