Scholarlink

Background <p>Childhood obesity is a major and increasing public health concern. Early prediction of the risk of childhood obesity may lead to targeted preventative interventions. To develop a prediction-toolbox that is suitable for clinical implementation, it is imperative to align it with the perceptions of health care professionals (HCPs), but this aspect remains relatively underexplored. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Dutch HCPs regarding the concept of a childhood obesity prediction toolbox.</p> Methods <p>A qualitative study design comprising semi-structured interviews (n=15) with Dutch HCPs was used. HCPs included youth health care practitioners, youth health care nurses and policy advisors employed at the municipal health service of Amsterdam. Perceptions were explored regarding the concept of a three-element childhood obesity prediction toolbox of the EndObesity project, which consists of a prediction tool, prevention strategies to support families of high-risk infants, and communication tips for HCPs. The data were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis.</p> Results <p>HCPs were positive about early identification of the risk of future childhood obesity and the support of high-risk infants. They acknowledged the potential benefits of personalized care facilitated by such risk prediction, but concerns were raised regarding its validity and its added value compared with the clinical judgement of HCPs. HCPs also expressed some negative connotations regarding risk communication e.g. making parents feel insecure or judged, especially in vulnerable situations. Finally, HCPs acknowledged the complexity of childhood obesity prevention and emphasized the need for a complementary broader approach at both the municipal and national policy levels.</p> Conclusions <p>Dutch HCPs generally supported the potential use of a childhood obesity prediction toolbox, but they also expressed concerns regarding the validity, the added value of the toolbox and about risk communication. These concerns must be addressed in further development of the toolbox.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Support and concerns: Dutch health care professionals’ views on the use of a childhood obesity prediction toolbox

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月4日

查看全文
  • Anna Manshanden,
  • Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans,
  • Nohaila M’Rani Alaoui,
  • Jacob C. Seidell,
  • S. Coosje Dijkstra

摘要

Background

Childhood obesity is a major and increasing public health concern. Early prediction of the risk of childhood obesity may lead to targeted preventative interventions. To develop a prediction-toolbox that is suitable for clinical implementation, it is imperative to align it with the perceptions of health care professionals (HCPs), but this aspect remains relatively underexplored. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Dutch HCPs regarding the concept of a childhood obesity prediction toolbox.

Methods

A qualitative study design comprising semi-structured interviews (n=15) with Dutch HCPs was used. HCPs included youth health care practitioners, youth health care nurses and policy advisors employed at the municipal health service of Amsterdam. Perceptions were explored regarding the concept of a three-element childhood obesity prediction toolbox of the EndObesity project, which consists of a prediction tool, prevention strategies to support families of high-risk infants, and communication tips for HCPs. The data were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

HCPs were positive about early identification of the risk of future childhood obesity and the support of high-risk infants. They acknowledged the potential benefits of personalized care facilitated by such risk prediction, but concerns were raised regarding its validity and its added value compared with the clinical judgement of HCPs. HCPs also expressed some negative connotations regarding risk communication e.g. making parents feel insecure or judged, especially in vulnerable situations. Finally, HCPs acknowledged the complexity of childhood obesity prevention and emphasized the need for a complementary broader approach at both the municipal and national policy levels.

Conclusions

Dutch HCPs generally supported the potential use of a childhood obesity prediction toolbox, but they also expressed concerns regarding the validity, the added value of the toolbox and about risk communication. These concerns must be addressed in further development of the toolbox.