FEASIBILITY STUDY MEASURING CHILDHOOD HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS IN WALESEUROPEAN

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FAQ: Feasibility Study Measuring Childhood Heights and Weights in Wales-European Childhood Growth Surveillance Initiative

Feasibility Study Measuring Childhood Heights and Weights in Wales-European Childhood Growth Surveillance Initiative


Questions and Answers


What is the purpose of the study?

To examine how a national height and weight measuring programme for primary school children could be introduced in Wales.


What is the purpose of a national height and weight measuring programme for Wales?

A national programme would allow heights and weights to


Who is undertaking the study?

This study was requested by the Welsh Assembly Government. The National Public Health Service for Wales is coordinating the study with Swansea University Powys Teaching LHB and four NHS Trusts across Wales: Cwm Taf NHS Trust, Hywel Dda NHS Trust, North Wales NHS Trust, and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust.


Where is the study taking place?

The study will take place in Flintshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff (the Cynon Valley only), Swansea (East) and Wrexham.


Are all schools included?

All state schools are included in each area (with the exception of Swansea). Independent and special needs schools are only included in the area if the nursing service already weighs and measures children in these schools.


Which age groups are included?

Reception year (age 4/5) and Year 4 (age 8/9) will be offered weighing and height measurement.


Most areas already take height and weight measurements for children around school entry. The way these measurements are taken will be standardised; however, otherwise there will be very little change to the measuring process for this age group. Pembrokeshire and Powys measure children in year 1. This will continue in addition to the reception year measuring.


Measurements are not currently taken for year 4, and so these will be new measurements for the study.


Why have these age groups been chosen?

Measuring at school entry is recommended by the UK National Screening Committee. Measurements taken in reception year will be comparable with measurements taken in other parts of the UK and in particular the National Child Measurement Programme in England.


Year 4 was chosen as this will allow participation in a European child growth surveillance project. This age is before the onset of puberty for both boys and girls making measuring simpler than in older primary school age groups.


Why measure two different age groups?

Measuring two different age groups allows us to see whether problems such as obesity are becoming more or less of common as children grow older in Wales.


Aren’t children already weighed and measured in schools?

Yes. However, this is done in different ways in different areas. Children are measured at different ages, with different equipment and the results are recorded in different ways. Because of this it is impossible to get a picture of child growth across Wales.


Who will take the measurements?

The measurements will be taken by healthcare staff of the community / school nursing service of the local NHS Trust. All staff taking measurements will be trained.


Can parents/children opt out of the measuring?

Yes, parents will be informed of the measuring in advance and given the option to opt out of measuring. Children can also opt out of the measuring on the day if they so wish. As part of the study some schools in year 4 will have an ‘opt in’ approach: parents will have to state they wish for the measuring to take place before it does take place.


How will measurements be taken?

Measurements will be taken in the school setting by a trained member of the healthcare team. They will be taken sensitively by trained staff. Where possible children will not be weighed and measured in front of their classmates and boys and girls will be measured separately. However, they will be asked to wear normal light clothing and take off their shoes.


Who will be able to see the results of the measurements of a child?

Only healthcare professionals with a responsibility for the health of your child will be able to see the results. Parents can request to get the results if they wish. Results will not be shared with school staff or any other individual. It will not be possible to identify the results for any individual child when measurements are brought together at the national and European level.


Will parents be provided with the results for their child?

Parents can receive the results of the measurements if they ask for them. Results will not be routinely sent to parents.


Will the measurements be used to improve the health of the child who is being measured?

The purpose of the measurements is to understand child growth across Wales in order to help provide better services for the children of Wales. The measurements are not taken in order to identify individuals with health problems. However, in line with National Screening Recommendations, if a very low height at reception year is identified then the healthcare staff will offer referral of that individual as appropriate. If the individual measuring the child identifies specific health concerns, this may include concerns of underweight or overweight, they will act on them in line with professional and Trust guidance.


What do we expect to be able to tell from the study?

The study will allow us to try out a standard approach to childhood height and weight measurement in different areas across Wales. In particular, it will trial standardised data collection approaches to allow information to be gathered at the national level.


The study will examine what effect offering parents in of year 4 pupils an opt-out or opt-in approach to measurement will have on uptake of measurements.


The study will try and identify problems that might be associated with a national programme in advance and describe costs that would be involved.


Will the study include getting people’s opinions?

Yes. Views of parents, children and staff will be sought through particular formats (qualitative methods) as part of the study.


If you have any queries please contact Dr Ciarán Humphreys, Consultant in Public Health / Public Health Intelligence, National Public Health Service for Wales on 01267 225061 or [email protected].

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