The purpose of the study was to determine if a nurse-directed health promotion program in a day care center increased the health of the children in the center and decreased injury rates. The research used a quasi-experimental time series design to answer the research questions. The convenience sample consisted of 29 children between the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years who were enrolled in a university child care center in a metropolitan area. The subjects had their health evaluated by a registered nurse, using the Child Health Assessment Inventory, once per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The Child Health Assessment Inventory measures frequent childhood illnesses and injuries. At the end of this first stage of data collection the Health Promotion Program was given to the staff members in the center. The program consisted of primary care information, such as signs and symptoms of childhood illness, infection control, injury prevention, and first aid. At the conclusion of the program the children had their health evaluated again once per week for 4 weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA showed there was a significant decrease in upper respiratory illness and accidental injury rates. The clinical application of this research is that a nurse-directed health promotion program can have an impact on childhood injuries. Subsequent research can determine if similar health promotion classes to parents and children have a positive effect on health.
Analysis of Variance Child Day Care Centers