Chronic Disease Risk Factors:
6th Grade Student Health Screenings
Deanna Hanson, MSN RN, BC Beth Whitfield, BSN, RN, MAE
Western Kentucky University
Fall 2007
Purpose
•  Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and
high blood cholesterol are all
contributing factors to adult chronic
diseases including heart disease, the
leading cause of death in Kentucky.
•  This preliminary quantitative study was
designed to
–  (1) identify what chronic disease risk factors
exist in the local 6th grade population and
–  (2) identify the need for future health
interventions.
by gathering baseline measurements/
screening labs on 6th grade students.
What percentage of local children
screened were overweight
compared to state and national rates?
Research Questions
and Results
•
What percentage of the sample had a body
fat level (BMI) that was borderline or high
indicating a risk for obesity?
–  26.6% (2 borderline, 14 high, out of 60
screened)
•  What percentage of the sample had
elevated blood glucose indicating a risk for
diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance?
–  1% (1 out of 73 screened)
•  What percentage of the sample had an
elevated blood pressure reading
indicating a risk for hypertension?
–  13.5% (3 borderline, 6 high, out of
59 screened)
•  What percentage of the sample had
abnormal cholesterol levels indicating a
risk for coronary artery disease?
–  Total Cholesterol 31.5% (18
borderline, 5 high, out of 73
screened
–  HDL 19.2% (14 low out of 73
screened)
–  LDL 12.3% (6 borderline, 3 high, out
of 73 screened)
–  Triglycerides 9.5% (7 high out of 73
screened)
Sample
•  All of the 274 students in the 6th grade at
a South-Central Kentucky school were
given the opportunity to participate at no
charge.
•  Consent forms were mailed to parents.
•  Students who returned a signed consent
form received instruction on the study
and assents forms were completed.
•  Students returning a signed consent form,
whether participating or opting out, also
received a pedometer compliments of the
WKU Mobile Health Unit.
•  A total of 73 children participated in the
finger-stick screening for a participation
rate of 26.6%.
Procedure
•  Height, weight, and blood pressure
measurements were noted from the
child’s 6th grade physical form. Body Fat
was measured as Body Mass Index and
was calculated using the height and
weight measurements.
•  Random blood sugar and cholesterol
screening labs were completed at the
school by WKU Mobile Health Unit Staff
and WKU BSN Nursing Students.
•  Results were mailed to parents/
guardians and they were encouraged to
share the results with their primary care
provider.
Conclusions and Implications
•  These screenings helped determine the health status
of the participating children. The results indicated
risk factors for chronic disease do exist in this
population.
•  Results may encourage the planning of health
interventions for students and families. The need for
interventions is indicated. Early intervention could
lessen the risk of future health problems.
•  Future planning may include development of health
questionnaires to gain more information and repeat
measurements of labs to measure improvement.
•  Nursing students benefited from this opportunity by
getting to interact with the children, perform Nursing
skills, and assess the data.
•  The 6th graders benefited by learning about chronic
diseases, receiving free screening labs, and getting a
positive exposure to the field of Nursing. One
unanticipated benefit to the children observed during
the screenings was an observed increase in their
self-esteem and a sense of empowerment related to
their own health.
Statistics
•  In 2005 the percentage of Kentucky
children who were overweight was 20.6%
–  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
•  In 2003-2004 the national percentage of
children aged 6 –11 years who were
overweight was 18.8%. For children aged
12–19 years the rate was 17.4%.
–  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•  A University of Michigan group found that
one-fourth of the school children it tests
have elevated cholesterol levels (2007).
–  The New York Times
•  Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are
increasing Americans’ risk for developing
major diseases, including type 2 diabetes,
heart disease, stroke and cancer.
–
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
A joint project by
WKU School of Nursing
&
WKU Institute for Rural Health