Development of the MapMe intervention body image scales of known weight status for 4-5 and 10-11 year old children.

Background: Parents tend to visually assess children to determine their weight status and typically underestimate child body size. A visual tool may aid parents to more accurately assess child weight status and so support strategies to reduce childhood overweight. Body image scales (BIS) are visual images of people ranging from underweight to overweight but none exist for children based on UK criteria. Our aim was to develop sex- and age-specific BIS for children, based on British growth reference (UK90) criteria. Methods: BIS were developed using 3D surface body scans of children, their associated weight status using UK90 criteria from height and weight measurements, and qualitative work with parents and health professionals. Results: Height, weight and 3D body scans were collected (211: 4-5 years; 177: 10-11 years). Overall, 12 qualitative sessions were held with 37 participants. Four BIS (4-5-year-old girls and boys, 10-11-year-old girls and boys) were developed. Conclusions: This study has created the first sex- and age-specific BIS, based on UK90 criteria. The BIS have potential for use in child overweight prevention and management strategies, and in future research. This study also provides a protocol for the development of further BIS appropriate to other age groups and ethnicities.

Mothers' perceptions of child weight status and the subsequent weight gain of their children: a population-based longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: There is a plethora of cross-sectional work on maternal perceptions of child weight status showing that mothers typically do not classify their overweight child as being overweight according to commonly used clinical criteria. Awareness of overweight in their child is regarded as an important prerequisite for mothers to initiate appropriate action. The gap in the literature is determining whether, if mothers do classify their overweight child's weight status correctly, this is associated with a positive outcome for the child's body mass index (BMI) at a later stage. OBJECTIVE: To explore longitudinal perceptions of child weight status from mothers of a contemporary population-based birth cohort (Gateshead Millennium Study) and relationships of these perceptions with future child weight gain. METHODS: Data collected in the same cohort at 7, 12 and 15 years of age: mothers' responses to two items concerning their child's body size; child's and mother's BMI; pubertal maturation; demographic information. RESULTS: Mothers' perceptions of whether their child was overweight did not change markedly over time. Child BMI was the only significant predictor of mothers' classification of overweight status, and it was only at the extreme end of the overweight range and in the obese range that mothers reliably described their child as overweight. Even when mothers did appropriately classify their child as overweight at an earlier stage, this was not related to relatively lower child BMI a few years later. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers tend to classify their child as overweight in only more extreme cases. It is an important finding that no beneficial impact was shown on later child BMI in overweight children whose mothers classified their child's weight status as overweight at an earlier stage.

The contribution of nursing to cancer prevention.

Cancer is a major killer of modern man, yet despite recent advances in knowledge of cancer and its causes, prevention remains a significant challenge within healthcare. Theories of health promotion give an insight into the perspectives on disease prevention whilst frameworks for disease prevention can be useful in helping identify and address the difficulties inherent in preventing this deadly disease. Within this paper Caplan's framework forms the basis for discussion of the issues related to cancer prevention in the United Kingdom as part of nursing's health promotion role. It is suggested that a 'chain of prevention' would ideally exist linking the laboratory scientists researching cancer and the general public. 'Weak links' are identified prior to suggestions for remedial strategies.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: an overview.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a fulminant form of respiratory failure which has diverse aetiology. Although the pathophysiology of the disease is understood in some depth today, much is still elusive and, despite technological advances in intensive care medicine, mortality rates remain high. This article focuses on the key areas of: the inflammatory processes in ARDS, the altered pulmonary physiology, and finally the outcomes, treatments and the need for future research. A knowledge of these aspects is useful to intensive care nurses.

Transvaginal ultrasonographic detection of primary ovarian pregnancy with laparoscopic removal: a case report.

The use of transvaginal ultrasound has greatly increased our visualization of pelvic organs and our diagnostic capabilities. By combining transvaginal ultrasound with laboratory and clinical information, ectopic pregnancies can be diagnosed and treated early in the gestational period. Early diagnosis allows laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancies. This case report combined the use of transvaginal ultrasound with laparoscopic treatment of an ovarian pregnancy.