TY - JOUR
T1 - Obesity care for youth during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - Challenges youth healthcare nurses experienced in providing obesity care in the Netherlands
AU - Concincion, Siegnella
AU - van Houtum, Lieke
AU - van de Vorst, Birgitta
AU - Verhoeff, Arnoud
AU - Dedding, Christine
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Nursing & Health Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
PY - 2024/3/1
Y1 - 2024/3/1
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected the lives of children and young people; studies report adverse effects on mental, physical, and social well-being. However, the impact of the pandemic on obesity care for children received little attention. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the challenges youth healthcare nurses experienced and to describe implications for future obesity care and policy. We conducted interviews, participant observations, and a group session with youth healthcare nurses during the pandemic in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Youth healthcare nurses reported a deterioration in the problems of children and young people who were already in the highest classification for pediatric obesity, such as increased weight gain, mental health problems, and socio-economic problems. The nurses experienced immense challenges while trying to provide obesity care, such as a decrease in face-to-face contact with youth and their families, as well as loss of continuity of care. It is important to reconnect with these families, invest in a trusted relationship with youth receiving obesity care, and prioritize available and accessible obesity care for those who need it the most.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected the lives of children and young people; studies report adverse effects on mental, physical, and social well-being. However, the impact of the pandemic on obesity care for children received little attention. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the challenges youth healthcare nurses experienced and to describe implications for future obesity care and policy. We conducted interviews, participant observations, and a group session with youth healthcare nurses during the pandemic in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Youth healthcare nurses reported a deterioration in the problems of children and young people who were already in the highest classification for pediatric obesity, such as increased weight gain, mental health problems, and socio-economic problems. The nurses experienced immense challenges while trying to provide obesity care, such as a decrease in face-to-face contact with youth and their families, as well as loss of continuity of care. It is important to reconnect with these families, invest in a trusted relationship with youth receiving obesity care, and prioritize available and accessible obesity care for those who need it the most.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - Paediatric obesity
KW - children
KW - pediatric obesity
KW - young people
KW - youth healthcare nurses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185345263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.1308412
U2 - 10.1111/nhs.13084
DO - 10.1111/nhs.13084
M3 - Article
C2 - 38356109
SN - 1441-0745
VL - 26
SP - e13084
JO - Nursing and Health Sciences
JF - Nursing and Health Sciences
IS - 1
M1 - e13084
ER -