Abstract
Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project randomly screens parents of pediatric and adolescent patients at annual wellness visits over three months to improve health outcomes by educating participants regarding healthy lifestyle behaviors of child and adolescent patients. Considering parents' knowledge of their child’s sleep patterns, nutritional intake, physical activity, screen time, and hydration practices is essential to improve behaviors within homes, which can enhance the growth, development, and overall understanding of health benefits among parents and legal guardians.
Background: Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and screen time habits affect children and adolescents’ growth and development, as well as their ability to cope with emotions, and the way they care for themselves. Currently, education provided to parents and guardians regarding healthy lifestyle recommendations for pediatric and adolescent age groups is not prioritized. Given the limited education provided to parents, this can affect lifelong health outcomes for patients and lead to chronic health conditions if healthy lifestyle practices are not learned at a young age.
Methods: When implementing this project, a random sampling method was used to determine the knowledge of parents and legal guardians regarding sleep patterns, nutritional intake, physical activity, screen time, and best hydration practices in child and adolescent patients. Implications for practice regarding parental knowledge underscore the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors in supporting the growth and development of child and adolescent patients. The research collected over three months helped facilitate education for parents and legal guardians to determine whether the perceived knowledge benefits the community.
Analysis: Implementing a data collection method through pre- and post-survey questionnaires will enhance stakeholder engagement and facilitate efficient analysis of the collected data (Pope et al., 2023). Focusing on nutritional intake and the lifestyle factors children participate in can improve their mental and physical health and enhance academic performance.
Results: Results of the quality improvement project show overall improvement of participant knowledge regrading lifestyle behaviors of children and adolescent patients.
Conclusion: Advanced healthcare professionals significantly impact the health and wellness of patients, especially children and adolescents, so advocating for and providing families and participants and providing them with resources and knowledge to support the growth and development of children within Christian County and the overall population served at the Community Medical Clinic is necessary. Reviewing feeding practices, sleep, physical activity, and screen time within the home, advocating for participants to include children and adolescents to help with meal prepping and engaging in physical activity with their children or reading can enhance the relationships between participants and their children to promote quality health outcomes and promote growth and development while influencing healthy decision making within the home. Promoting health and wellness within the community and supporting families to implement positive health decisions can guide parental engagement regarding the wellness and treatment of child and adolescent patients within the community.
Implications for Practice: Implications for practice regarding guardians' knowledge suggest the importance of adequate nutritional intake and physical activity to support the growth and development of child and adolescent patients. The research collected over three months will help facilitate education provided to parents and legal guardians to determine if the perceived knowledge benefits the community. Implementing a data collection method through a paper survey will help with engagement from stakeholders and help with efficient analysis of the research collected (Pope et al., 2023). Focusing on nutritional intake and the lifestyle factors children participate in can improve their mental and physical health and enhance academic performance.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
DNP Capstone Project
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Nutrition, Physical Activity, Health Outcomes, Health Outcome Assessment, Parents, Parenting Education, Parents and Legal Guardians, Guardian & Ward, Parental Feedback, Child and Adolescent Nutrition, Child Nutrition, Adolescent Nutrition
Advisor
Gloria Brummer
Degree
DNP
Degree Grantor
St. John's College of Nursing
Degree Year
2026
Recommended Citation
Swigert, Kinsey N.; Brummer, Gloria; Bednarchik, Cynthia; and Weekly, Jennifer, "Parental Education Using Johns Hopkins ‘9-5-2-1-0 Go’ Tool to Support Child and Adolescent Growth and Development" (2026). DNP and Student Works. 336.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/dnps/336
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
None: Degree-based Submission
Acquisition
Self-submission
Date of Issue
2026-05-18
Full Text of Presentation
wf_yes
Description
The quality improvement study seeks to provide data and patient education to parents and legal guardians regarding the nutrition and exercise recommendations based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health, and Johns Hopkins Medicine. Currently, limited education is provided to parents and family members regarding the recommended guidelines to prevent lifelong health complications.