Measuring the Weight Status, Primary Care Usage and Dietary Intake in the Pediatric Emergency Department
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Obesity Weight Loss |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Endocrinology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 2 - 10 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | October 2014 |
| End Date: | February 2015 |
Childhood obesity is a major area of concern for health care and public health. Overweight
children are more likely overweight and obese adults. Chronic health problems associated
with adult obesity are now occurring more frequently in children. Because of the associated
health problems and potential for long term struggles with obesity, intervention early in
life is essential for addressing the obesity epidemic. Some intervention work in this area
has focused on the pediatric primary care setting in order to utilize the influence and
credibility of medical providers. Unfortunately, primary care visits are often too short to
spend a significant amount of time on issues of diet, weight and nutrition.
There has been very little work exploring the potential of alternative care settings, such
as the pediatric Emergency Department (ED) in addressing childhood obesity. While provider
time is also limited in the ED, there is often a considerable amount of downtime during
emergency department visits that could be valuable time for patient and parent education.
There may also be an opportunity to reach parents and children in the ED who do not
regularly utilize primary care. In order to explore the possibility of pediatric obesity
interventions in Children's Pediatric Emergency Department, we will need to measure the
prevalence of obesity in the population that utilizes the Children's ED. The height of
patients seen in the ED is not routinely measured, which makes calculating BMI to determine
obesity impossible. This study, establishing the prevalence of obesity in Children's
Emergency Department will lay the groundwork for future work addressing obesity in the ED.
children are more likely overweight and obese adults. Chronic health problems associated
with adult obesity are now occurring more frequently in children. Because of the associated
health problems and potential for long term struggles with obesity, intervention early in
life is essential for addressing the obesity epidemic. Some intervention work in this area
has focused on the pediatric primary care setting in order to utilize the influence and
credibility of medical providers. Unfortunately, primary care visits are often too short to
spend a significant amount of time on issues of diet, weight and nutrition.
There has been very little work exploring the potential of alternative care settings, such
as the pediatric Emergency Department (ED) in addressing childhood obesity. While provider
time is also limited in the ED, there is often a considerable amount of downtime during
emergency department visits that could be valuable time for patient and parent education.
There may also be an opportunity to reach parents and children in the ED who do not
regularly utilize primary care. In order to explore the possibility of pediatric obesity
interventions in Children's Pediatric Emergency Department, we will need to measure the
prevalence of obesity in the population that utilizes the Children's ED. The height of
patients seen in the ED is not routinely measured, which makes calculating BMI to determine
obesity impossible. This study, establishing the prevalence of obesity in Children's
Emergency Department will lay the groundwork for future work addressing obesity in the ED.
Background/Significance Childhood obesity is a well-documented public health crisis. Data
from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES) indicate that
the prevalence of obesity is 8.4% in 2 to 5-year-olds, 17.7% in 6 to 11-year-olds, and 20.5%
in 12 to 19-year-olds (1). Large racial/ethnic disparities in risk for obesity are already
present by the preschool years (2). In 2 to 5-year-olds, 3.5% of non-Hispanic white children
are obese, compared to 11.3% of non-Hispanic black and 16.7% of Hispanic children (1). Many
health problems that were previously associated only with adult obesity are now being seen
in youth, including the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular
abnormalities (3). Obesity tracks into adulthood, highlighting the need for early
intervention (4). Overweight children have more chronic conditions, a greater risk of
emergency department visits, and significantly higher costs for common pediatric
hospitalizations (5-7). Successfully addressing the childhood obesity epidemic will require
coordinated and collective efforts across many settings including multiple healthcare
settings (8). Obesity interventions are increasingly being developed that utilize the
influential role and credibility of pediatric primary care providers by integrating
interventions into healthcare settings (9). Unfortunately, primary care visits are often
short (average primary visit is 16.4 minutes) and leave little time for addressing obesity
in detail, highlighting the need to also incorporate assessment and treatment in alternative
care settings (i.e., emergency care) (10, 11).
There is little research on what role alternative healthcare setting could play in
addressing childhood obesity. The pediatric ED is currently untapped as a setting for
obesity screening, treatment and prevention (12). Yet, childhood obesity has important
implications for emergency medicine and trauma care, and the pediatric ED may be shouldering
a disproportionate burden of this disease compared to other healthcare settings (13, 14).
Not addressing a patient's obesity in the ED setting is a missed opportunity, especially
when many visits are obesity- related (e.g., asthma, type 2 diabetes, fractures), and weight
reduction in specific subgroups could lead to a decrease in future ED utilization. The
pediatric ED may not seem like an ideal location for addressing childhood obesity but many
visits are for non-emergent/urgent conditions and these types of visits provide a window for
screening and intervention (12,15). Families spend a substantial amount of time in the ED
waiting for laboratory/radiology results and disposition. In 2013, the average length of
stay in the Children's EDs was 155 minutes in Minneapolis and 143 minutes in St. Paul,
valuable time that could be used for obesity screening, education, and connection to
external resources. The pediatric ED has the potential to be an important additional
healthcare setting for obesity screening, education, and linkage to external resources, but
much more research is needed (12,13,16).
Three previous studies have examined obesity rates in the pediatric ED, each finding a
higher prevalence of obesity compared to the general population (12,13,16). Prendergast et
al. conducted a retrospective chart review and found a prevalence of obesity of 29% in a
Chicago pediatric ED, nearly double the national average of 17% (12). The other two studies
collected cross-sectional data from small samples in urban pediatric EDs and found a
prevalence of obesity of 24% (13) and 21.6% (16). Only one study has tested obesity
screening in the pediatric ED (16). Vaughn et al. found that all parents were receptive to
obesity screening and prevention in the ED, regardless of race (16). They also found that
only 7.6% of parents reported that their child's regular physician had counseled them
regarding their child's weight, highlighting the need for obesity screening in additional
healthcare settings (16). These studies indicate that pediatric EDs are seeing a population
of patients at high risk for obesity, many of whom may not be receiving screening or
counseling from their regular physician. Other topics in emergency medicine have received
far greater coverage in the literature, including smoking cessation, injury prevention and
substance abuse (13). With the dramatic increase in pediatric obesity, research on obesity
in the pediatric ED is especially warranted as innovative strategies and collaboration
across healthcare settings will be needed to successfully address this epidemic.
Currently, the prevalence of obesity in patients who utilize the pediatric ED at Children's
Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is unknown. Because of time constraints, the height of
patients seen in the pediatric ED are not routinely measured or recorded in the Electronic
Medical Record (EMR). Establishing prevalence of obesity in this population is not possible
without measuring the height of PED patients to determine BMI. Establishing the prevalence
in the population of patients who utilize the pediatric ED will lay the groundwork for
future grant proposals and research in this area.
Research Questions:
1. What is the prevalence of obesity in the Children's ED patient population?
2. What is the association between weight status and ED utilization for injury, asthma and
mental health?
Study Design We will conduct a cross-sectional cohort study of patients aged 2-10 in
Children's ED.
Methods ED research assistants will screen the ED log for patients in the 2-10 age range
triaged level 3-5. Research assistants will randomly determine 1 out of 5 patients to
approach for study enrollment. After the consent process is completed, the research
assistant will measure and record the child's height, and ask the parent to complete a short
questionnaire.
from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES) indicate that
the prevalence of obesity is 8.4% in 2 to 5-year-olds, 17.7% in 6 to 11-year-olds, and 20.5%
in 12 to 19-year-olds (1). Large racial/ethnic disparities in risk for obesity are already
present by the preschool years (2). In 2 to 5-year-olds, 3.5% of non-Hispanic white children
are obese, compared to 11.3% of non-Hispanic black and 16.7% of Hispanic children (1). Many
health problems that were previously associated only with adult obesity are now being seen
in youth, including the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular
abnormalities (3). Obesity tracks into adulthood, highlighting the need for early
intervention (4). Overweight children have more chronic conditions, a greater risk of
emergency department visits, and significantly higher costs for common pediatric
hospitalizations (5-7). Successfully addressing the childhood obesity epidemic will require
coordinated and collective efforts across many settings including multiple healthcare
settings (8). Obesity interventions are increasingly being developed that utilize the
influential role and credibility of pediatric primary care providers by integrating
interventions into healthcare settings (9). Unfortunately, primary care visits are often
short (average primary visit is 16.4 minutes) and leave little time for addressing obesity
in detail, highlighting the need to also incorporate assessment and treatment in alternative
care settings (i.e., emergency care) (10, 11).
There is little research on what role alternative healthcare setting could play in
addressing childhood obesity. The pediatric ED is currently untapped as a setting for
obesity screening, treatment and prevention (12). Yet, childhood obesity has important
implications for emergency medicine and trauma care, and the pediatric ED may be shouldering
a disproportionate burden of this disease compared to other healthcare settings (13, 14).
Not addressing a patient's obesity in the ED setting is a missed opportunity, especially
when many visits are obesity- related (e.g., asthma, type 2 diabetes, fractures), and weight
reduction in specific subgroups could lead to a decrease in future ED utilization. The
pediatric ED may not seem like an ideal location for addressing childhood obesity but many
visits are for non-emergent/urgent conditions and these types of visits provide a window for
screening and intervention (12,15). Families spend a substantial amount of time in the ED
waiting for laboratory/radiology results and disposition. In 2013, the average length of
stay in the Children's EDs was 155 minutes in Minneapolis and 143 minutes in St. Paul,
valuable time that could be used for obesity screening, education, and connection to
external resources. The pediatric ED has the potential to be an important additional
healthcare setting for obesity screening, education, and linkage to external resources, but
much more research is needed (12,13,16).
Three previous studies have examined obesity rates in the pediatric ED, each finding a
higher prevalence of obesity compared to the general population (12,13,16). Prendergast et
al. conducted a retrospective chart review and found a prevalence of obesity of 29% in a
Chicago pediatric ED, nearly double the national average of 17% (12). The other two studies
collected cross-sectional data from small samples in urban pediatric EDs and found a
prevalence of obesity of 24% (13) and 21.6% (16). Only one study has tested obesity
screening in the pediatric ED (16). Vaughn et al. found that all parents were receptive to
obesity screening and prevention in the ED, regardless of race (16). They also found that
only 7.6% of parents reported that their child's regular physician had counseled them
regarding their child's weight, highlighting the need for obesity screening in additional
healthcare settings (16). These studies indicate that pediatric EDs are seeing a population
of patients at high risk for obesity, many of whom may not be receiving screening or
counseling from their regular physician. Other topics in emergency medicine have received
far greater coverage in the literature, including smoking cessation, injury prevention and
substance abuse (13). With the dramatic increase in pediatric obesity, research on obesity
in the pediatric ED is especially warranted as innovative strategies and collaboration
across healthcare settings will be needed to successfully address this epidemic.
Currently, the prevalence of obesity in patients who utilize the pediatric ED at Children's
Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is unknown. Because of time constraints, the height of
patients seen in the pediatric ED are not routinely measured or recorded in the Electronic
Medical Record (EMR). Establishing prevalence of obesity in this population is not possible
without measuring the height of PED patients to determine BMI. Establishing the prevalence
in the population of patients who utilize the pediatric ED will lay the groundwork for
future grant proposals and research in this area.
Research Questions:
1. What is the prevalence of obesity in the Children's ED patient population?
2. What is the association between weight status and ED utilization for injury, asthma and
mental health?
Study Design We will conduct a cross-sectional cohort study of patients aged 2-10 in
Children's ED.
Methods ED research assistants will screen the ED log for patients in the 2-10 age range
triaged level 3-5. Research assistants will randomly determine 1 out of 5 patients to
approach for study enrollment. After the consent process is completed, the research
assistant will measure and record the child's height, and ask the parent to complete a short
questionnaire.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Emergency Severity Index (ESI) Triage levels 3-5
2. Patient between 2 and 10 years of age (inclusive)
3. Parent able to consent
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Transferred patients
We found this trial at
1
site
Click here to add this to my saved trials
