Name
Chamberlain University
NR-716: Analytic Methods
Prof. Name
Date
Hi Dr. Jennings,
My proposed practice question is as follows:
In families with children, does implementing the Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus Program, compared to routine mealtime practices, influence nutrition-related outcomes and behaviors over a period of 8–10 weeks? (Fulkerson et al., 2018).
This question directly addresses the significant issue of childhood obesity, which remains a critical public health concern with both medical and financial consequences (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Given the long-term risks associated with early obesity—including heightened chances of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses later in life—it is imperative to identify and apply effective, family-centered interventions that promote lifelong healthy habits.
Tackling the challenge of childhood obesity cannot be achieved in isolation. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that unites healthcare professionals, researchers, families, and communities is essential to create sustainable solutions.
Leach and Tucker (2018) emphasize the necessity of narrowing the research-to-practice gap, ensuring that strategies supported by empirical evidence are effectively incorporated into day-to-day clinical and community practice. Collaborative initiatives allow for shared accountability, continuous evaluation, and the design of interventions tailored to real-life family environments. Such cooperation strengthens the ability of families to model healthy behaviors, ultimately empowering children to adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles.
The HOME Plus Program was designed as a structured, family-focused intervention that improves mealtime practices while building skills for healthier food-related decisions. The program emphasized several key areas:
Encouraging nutritious food purchasing and preparation.
Reducing reliance on sugar-sweetened beverages.
Decreasing sedentary activities, particularly limiting screen time.
Enhancing self-confidence in planning and preparing balanced family meals.
The study included 160 children aged 8–12 years and their parents. Families were randomly assigned to either the intervention (81 parents) or control group (79 parents). The intervention targeted both generations, reinforcing that parental modeling and shared mealtime practices significantly shape children’s eating behaviors.
The findings revealed measurable improvements in both parents and children. Key outcomes are summarized in the table below:
| Outcome | Population | Results | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-efficacy in identifying portion sizes | Parents | Parents in the intervention group demonstrated notable improvement in recognizing healthy portion sizes compared to the control group. | Statistically significant (Post-intervention P = .002; Follow-up P = .01) |
| Daily sugar-sweetened beverage intake | Children | Children in the intervention group consumed fewer sugary drinks than those in the control group. | Statistically significant (P = .04) |
| Long-term impact | Parents & Children | Positive changes in eating behaviors and parental skills were sustained over time. | Retention rate of 89% at 21 months |
These outcomes underscore that structured family-based programs can enhance both immediate and sustained nutrition-related behaviors. The improvement in parents’ recognition of portion sizes directly contributed to healthier eating practices among children, demonstrating the importance of parental role modeling in dietary behaviors.
The study used surveys and dietary recalls to measure impact across three points:
Baseline – Data collected before program initiation.
Post-intervention – At 12 months, with a retention rate of 93%.
Follow-up – At 21 months, with a strong retention rate of 89%.
The consistently high retention rates highlight both the feasibility and acceptability of the program. These results strengthen the argument that such interventions can be scaled up for broader community use, given their capacity to maintain family engagement over extended periods.
Nurses play a pivotal role in health education and preventive care. Through initiatives like the HOME Plus Program, nurses can:
Guide families in developing healthier meal routines.
Provide education on portion sizes, nutrition, and beverage choices.
Reduce obesity risks by promoting family-centered lifestyle changes.
Serve as liaisons in community-based programs that integrate research into practice.
Furthermore, interdisciplinary collaboration ensures that evidence-based interventions are not confined to research studies but adapted into practical, everyday family environments. This strengthens the bridge between clinical knowledge and sustainable public health outcomes, aligning with nursing’s core mission of fostering wellness across populations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Obesity. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/index.html
Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S., Horning, M., Flattum, C., Draxten, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Gurvich, O., Garwick, A., Story, M., & Kubik, M. Y. (2018). Family home food environment and nutrition-related parent and child personal and behavioral outcomes of the Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus Program: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(2), 240–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2017.04.006
Leach, M. J., & Tucker, B. (2018). Current understandings of the research-practice gap in nursing: A mixed-methods study. Collegian, 25(2), 171–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2017.04.008
