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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Physical activity promotion in public health nursing practice with children

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Background: Physical activity has become a major public health concern even in early childhood. This article exemplifies physical activity promotion in practice as described by public health nurses from Finnish primary health care. Method: We gathered the data by purposive sampling in five regional focus groups with 24 informants working in child health clinics provided for all families with children below school age. Statements associated with physical activity promotion were extracted out of verbatim transcripts. Frequency counting complemented qualitative analysis of the content of statements. Findings: Child-centred evaluation provided by public health nurses focused on motor development, basic sporting skills and amount of activities outdoors and play and exercising habits of the child. Family-centred evaluation focused on the general activity level of the family or a member of the family and resources for physical activity. Activation and support included nearly the same issues brought up for discussion during check-ups, as a basis for counselling, or as points of reinforcement. Contradictory to a family approach in health care, most of the statements (78% out of 223 statements) were child centred. Forcefulness of statements revealed that assessment of physical abilities, including motor development, was the only topic applied with every child. Other topics were more selectively targeted for children and families with mild special needs: for example overweight, clumsy, insomniac, or restless children and sedentary families. Conclusions: Even though special needs should receive specific attention in health care, we suggest more concern on physical activity of every child and the whole family in practice in order to meet modern health promotional challenges. Although the Finnish child health clinic system is unique due to its vast coverage and frequent contacts with every child and the family, the findings from this explorative research might inspire other community practitioners to start analysing their own work in view of this research.