Evaluation of child health matters: a web-based tutorial to enhance school nurses' communications with families about weight-related health.

The goal of the current study was to assess the efficacy and acceptability of a web-based tutorial (Child Health Matters, CHM) designed to improve school nurses' communications with families about pediatric weight-related health issues. Using a randomized wait-list control design, a nationally representative sample of school nurses was assigned to immediate or delayed access conditions. Pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments of knowledge, barriers to providing obesity treatment, and intended practices were conducted. Results indicated that, relative to wait-list controls, immediate-access nurses demonstrated significant increases in knowledge and decreases in perceived barriers to discussing weight-related health, and significantly greater intentions to assess physical activity, and to recommend dietary changes and physical activity. Wait-list nurses demonstrated significant within-group improvements after completing CHM. Nurses reported a high degree of satisfaction with CHM. Results suggest that web-based tutorials can effect changes in nurses' knowledge, perceived barriers, and intended practices with regard to weight-related health care.