Effect of an obesity pamphlet on parental perception and knowledge of excess weight in their children: results of a randomised controlled trial
Karina T. Rune A B , Kate Mulgrew A , Rachael Sharman A and Geoff P. Lovell AA School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked bag 4, Maroochydore DC, Qld 4558, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: Karina.Rune@research.usc.edu.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 26(2) 129-132 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE14060
Submitted: 4 July 2014 Accepted: 21 February 2015 Published: 19 May 2015
Abstract
Issues addressed: This study examined the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention in increasing parental knowledge of childhood obesity risk factors and ability to correctly identify their child’s weight status.
Methods: Eighty parents were randomly allocated to an experimental group given an obesity pamphlet or a control group given a stress management pamphlet. A survey measured parents’ knowledge about risk factors, cause and consequences of childhood obesity, and perception of their child’s weight.
Results: Parents with overweight or obese children increased their understanding of childhood obesity immediately after receiving the intervention, but did not differ significantly on perception of their child’s weight.
Conclusion: The experimental intervention increased knowledge of health risks associated with childhood obesity in parents of overweight or obese children. Parental perception of their child’s weight status did not improve, suggesting that other factors have a role to play.
So what?: The obesity pamphlet may be a useful tool in a multifaceted approach targeting childhood obesity.
Key words: Childhood obesity, education intervention, parental perception and knowledge of childhood obesity, Health Belief Model.
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