Feasibility of an Online,Interactive Body Mass Index Parental Notification Letter (e-BMI)

Abstract

School-based body mass index (BMI) screening is required in 50% of states with parent notification letters distributed among 11 of those states. Additional research is needed to effectively communicate screening results to parents. We conducted a pilot investigation of parent acceptability of an electronic, interactive BMI parental notification letter (e-BMI) along with the feasibility of implementing an e-BMI letter in the school setting. In addition, we assessed parental attitudes and practices regarding their child’s weight-related behaviors. Electronic letter distribution and parent receipt were consistent with traditional paper letter mailings; however, we did not observe any significant behavioral impacts with either letter format. Parents reported interest in wellness programming offered by the school, a potential opportunity for schools to engage families in healthful practices. Additional research is needed to understand the impact of e-BMI letters and accompanying web-based resources specifically for parents of students with overweight or obesity.

Keywords

school nurse childhood obesity body mass index (BMI)screening/risk identification communication

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bailey-Davis

Peyer

K. L.

Fang

Kim

J. K.

Welk

G. J.

(2017). Effects of enhancing school-based body mass index screening reports with parent education on report utility and parental intent to modify obesity risk factors. Childhood Obesity, 13(2), 164–171. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2016.0177

Baker

(2017, August 28). Brafton 2017 content marketing benchmark report. Brafton. https://www.brafton.com/blog/strategy/brafton-2017-content-marketing-benchmark-report/

Barlow

S. E.

, & Expert Committee. (2007). Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: Summary report. Pediatrics, 120(Suppl. 4), S164–192. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-2329C

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, January 25). Body mass index (BMI) measurement in schools. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/bmi/bmi_measurement_schools.htm

Datar

Shier

Sturm

(2011). Changes in body mass during elementary and middle school in a national cohort of kindergarteners. Pediatrics, 128(6), e1411–1417. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0114

Ebbeling

Pawlak

Ludwig

(2002). Childhood obesity: Public-health crisis, common sense cure. Lancet, 360(9331), 473–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09678-2

Evans

E. W.

Sonneville

K. R.

(2009). BMI report cards: Will they pass or fail in the fight against pediatric obesity? Current Opinions in Pediatrics, 21(4), 431–436. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0b013e32832ce04c

Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA). (n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2018, from http://www.myfnpa.org/resources

Francis

Hoke

A. M.

Kraschnewski

J. L.

(2018). Body mass index screening and follow-up: A cross-sectional questionnaire study of Pennsylvania school nurses. Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 7(2), e11619. https://doi.org/10.2196/11619

10.

Freedman

D. S.

Khan

L. K.

Dietz

W. H.

Srinivasan

S. R.

Berenson

G. S.

(2001). Relationship of childhood obesity to coronary heart disease risk factors in adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics, 108(3), 712–718. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.108.3.712

11.

Gance-Cleveland

Bushmiaer

(2005). Arkansas school nurses’ role in statewide assessment of body mass index to screen for overweight children and adolescents. Journal of School Nursing, 21(2), 64–69. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405050210020201

12.

Han

J. C.

Lawlor

D. A.

Kimm

S. Y. S.

(2010). Childhood obesity—2010: Progress and challenges. Lancet, 375(9727), 1737–1748. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60171-7

13.

Harris

P. A.

Taylor

Thielke

Payne

Gonzalez

Conde

J. G.

(2009). Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 42(2), 377–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2008.08.010

14.

Ihmels

M. A.

Welk

G. J.

Eisenmann

J. C.

Nusser

S. M.

(2009). Development and preliminary validation of a family nutrition and physical activity (FNPA) screening tool. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-6-14

15.

Ihmels

M. A.

Welk

G. J.

Eisenmann

J. C.

Nusser

S. M.

Myers

E. F.

(2009). Prediction of BMI change in young children with the family nutrition and physical activity (FNPA) screening tool. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 38(1), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-009-9126-3

16.

Ikeda

J. P.

Crawford

P. B.

Woodward-Lopez

(2006). BMI screening in schools: Helpful or harmful. Health Education Research, 21(6), 761–769. https://doi.org10.1093/her/cyl144

17.

Jones

Huffer

Adams

Jones

Church

(2018). BMI health report cards: Parents’ perceptions and reactions. Health Promotion Practice, 19(6), 896–904. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839917749489

18.

Kaplan

(2015, May 7). Obese students far less likely to finish high school, Swedish study says. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-sn-childhood-obesity-high-school-graduation-rate-20150507-story.html

19.

Moyer

L. J.

Carbone

E. T.

Anliker

J. A.

Goff

S. L.

(2014). The Massachusetts BMI letter: A qualitative study of responses from parents of obese children. Patient Education and Counseling, 94(2), 210–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.10.016

20.

Nihiser

Lee

Wechsler

McKenna

Odom

Reinold

Thompson

Grummer-Strawn

(2007). Body mass index measurement in schools. Journal of School Health, 77(10), 651–671. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00249.x

21.

Nihiser

Lee

Wechsler

McKenna

Odom

Reinold

Thompson

Grummer-Strawn

(2009). BMI measurement in schools. Pediatrics, 124(Suppl. 1), S89–97. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-3586L

22.

O’Brien

(2011, August 31). What parents want in school communication. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/parent-involvement-survey-anne-obrien

23.

Ogden

C. L.

Carroll

M. D.

Kit

B. K.

Flegal

K. M.

(2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. Journal of the American Medical Association, 311(8), 806–814.

24.

Olshansky

S. J.

Passaro

D. J.

Hershow

R. C.

Layden

Carnes

B. A.

Brody

Hayflick

Butler

R. N.

Allison

D. B.

Ludwig

D. S.

(2005). A potential decline in life expectancy in the United States in the 21st century. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(11), 1138–1145. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.732

25.

Portilla

M. G.

(2011). Body mass index reporting through the school system: Potential harm. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(3), 442–445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2010.11.018

26.

Reilly

J. J.

Kelly

(2011). Long-term impact of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence on morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood: Systematic review. International Journal of Obesity, 35(7), 891–898. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.222

27.

Ruggieri

D. G.

Bass

S. B.

(2015). A comprehensive review of school-based body mass index screening programs and their implications for school health: Do the controversies accurately reflect the research? Journal of School Health, 85(1), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12222

28.

Scheier

L. M.

(2004). School health report cards attempt to address the obesity epidemic. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 104(3), 341–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2004.01.022

29.

Smith

(2015). U.S. Smartphone use in 2015 [Data set]. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/

30.

Soto

White

J. H.

(2010). School health initiatives and childhood obesity: BMI screening and reporting. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 11(2), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154410374218

31.

Stalter

A. M.

Chaudry

R. V.

Polivka

B. J.

(2010). Facilitating factors and barriers to BMI screening in schools. Journal of School Nursing, 26(4), 320–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840510368524

32.

Stalter

A. M.

Chaudry

R. V.

Polivka

B. J.

(2011). Regional differences as barriers to body mass index screening described by Ohio school nurses. Journal of School Health, 81(8), 437–448. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00600.x

33.

Taylor

E. D.

Theim

K. R.

Mirch

M. C.

Ghorbani

Tanofsky-Kraff

Adler-Wailes

D. C.

Brady

Reynolds

J. C.

Calis

K. A.

Yanovski

J. A.

(2006). Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 117(6), 2167–2174. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-1832

34.

Thompson

H. R.

Linchey

J. K.

Madsen

K. A.

(2015). Critical elements of a school report to parents on body mass index. Preventing Chronic Disease, 12, E136. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.150165

35.

Thompson

H. R.

Madsen

K. A.

(2017). The report card on BMI report cards. Current Obesity Reports, 6(2), 163–167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-017-0259-6

36.

Thompson

J. W.

Card-Higginson

(2009). Arkansas’ experience: Statewide surveillance and parental information on the child obesity epidemic. Pediatrics, 124(Suppl. 1), S73–82. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-3586J

37.

Vogel

(2011). The skinny on BMI report cards. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 183(12), E787–788. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.109-3927

38.

Whitlock

E. P.

Williams

S. B.

Gold

Smith

P. R.

Shipman

S. A.

(2005). Screening and interventions for childhood overweight: A summary of evidence for the US preventive services task force. Pediatrics, 116(1), e125–144. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-0242