Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target
Introduction The ‘Raising Healthy Kids (RHK) health target’ recommended that children identified as having obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥98th centile] through growth screening at the B4 School Check (B4SC) be offered referral for subsequent assessment and intervention. Aim To determine the impa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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CSIRO Publishing
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Primary Health Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.publish.csiro.au/hc/pdf/HC22076 |
| _version_ | 1797979863783571456 |
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| author | Yvonne C. Anderson Paul L. Hofman Sarah E. Maessen Esther J. Willing José G. B. Derraik Tami L. Cave |
| author_facet | Yvonne C. Anderson Paul L. Hofman Sarah E. Maessen Esther J. Willing José G. B. Derraik Tami L. Cave |
| author_sort | Yvonne C. Anderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
The ‘Raising Healthy Kids (RHK) health target’ recommended that children identified as having obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥98th centile] through growth screening at the B4 School Check (B4SC) be offered referral for subsequent assessment and intervention.
Aim
To determine the impact of the ‘RHK health target’ on referral rates for obesity in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ).
Methods
A retrospective audit was undertaken of 4-year-olds identified to have obesity in the B4SC programme in Taranaki and nationally in 2015–19. Key outcomes were: ‘RHK health target’ rate [proportion of children with obesity for whom District Health Boards (DHBs) applied the appropriate referral process]; Acknowledged referral rate (proportion of children with a referral for obesity whose referral was acknowledged by DHBs); and Declined referral rate (proportion of children offered a referral for obesity who declined their referral).
Results
Data were audited on 266 448 children, including 7464 in Taranaki. ‘RHK health target’ rates increased markedly between 2015–16 and 2016–17 following the health target implementation (NZ: 34–87%; P P Acknowledged referral rates also increased post-target nationally (56–90%; P Declined referral rates across NZ (26–31%) and in Taranaki (although variable: 38–69%).
Discussions
The ‘RHK health target’s’ focus on referral rather than intervention uptake limited the policy’s impact on improving preschool obesity. Future policy should focus on ensuring access to multidisciplinary intervention programmes across NZ to support healthy lifestyle change.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:45:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5031f7d8a7a7489c8aecfacaf0322a1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1172-6156 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:45:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Primary Health Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-5031f7d8a7a7489c8aecfacaf0322a1d2022-12-22T04:42:14ZengCSIRO PublishingJournal of Primary Health Care1172-61562022-01-01144310317HC22076Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids targetYvonne C. Anderson0Paul L. Hofman1Sarah E. Maessen2Esther J. Willing3José G. B. Derraik4Tami L. Cave5Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; and Curtin enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia; and Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; and Community Health, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.Kohatu – Centre for Hauora Maori, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; and Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Introduction The ‘Raising Healthy Kids (RHK) health target’ recommended that children identified as having obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥98th centile] through growth screening at the B4 School Check (B4SC) be offered referral for subsequent assessment and intervention. Aim To determine the impact of the ‘RHK health target’ on referral rates for obesity in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Methods A retrospective audit was undertaken of 4-year-olds identified to have obesity in the B4SC programme in Taranaki and nationally in 2015–19. Key outcomes were: ‘RHK health target’ rate [proportion of children with obesity for whom District Health Boards (DHBs) applied the appropriate referral process]; Acknowledged referral rate (proportion of children with a referral for obesity whose referral was acknowledged by DHBs); and Declined referral rate (proportion of children offered a referral for obesity who declined their referral). Results Data were audited on 266 448 children, including 7464 in Taranaki. ‘RHK health target’ rates increased markedly between 2015–16 and 2016–17 following the health target implementation (NZ: 34–87%; P P Acknowledged referral rates also increased post-target nationally (56–90%; P Declined referral rates across NZ (26–31%) and in Taranaki (although variable: 38–69%). Discussions The ‘RHK health target’s’ focus on referral rather than intervention uptake limited the policy’s impact on improving preschool obesity. Future policy should focus on ensuring access to multidisciplinary intervention programmes across NZ to support healthy lifestyle change. https://www.publish.csiro.au/hc/pdf/HC22076B4 School Checkchildhood obesity interventionhealth targethealthy lifestyle changemultidisciplinary intervention programmepreschool |
| spellingShingle | Yvonne C. Anderson Paul L. Hofman Sarah E. Maessen Esther J. Willing José G. B. Derraik Tami L. Cave Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target Journal of Primary Health Care B4 School Check childhood obesity intervention health target healthy lifestyle change multidisciplinary intervention programme preschool |
| title | Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target |
| title_full | Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target |
| title_fullStr | Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target |
| title_short | Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target |
| title_sort | changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool raising healthy kids target |
| topic | B4 School Check childhood obesity intervention health target healthy lifestyle change multidisciplinary intervention programme preschool |
| url | https://www.publish.csiro.au/hc/pdf/HC22076 |
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