Strategies used by parents of twins to obtain sleep

Empirical evidence on how parents of twins manage their need for sleep is nonexistent. Lay publications provide advice for parents of multiples, yet their recommendations have been neither studied for their frequency of use nor tested for their effectiveness. Parents of twins were interviewed by telephone regarding strategies they used to obtain sleep during the first 6 months postbirth. Reported strategies were grouped into a priori categories suggested by the literature. Findings indicated that parents attempted various strategies to increase their sleep but disagreed on their effectiveness. Development and testing of a repertoire of effective strategies tailored for parents of twins are needed.     

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners' Assessment and Management of Childhood Overweight/Obesity: Results from 1999 and 2005 Cohort Surveys

Little is known about current PNP practices and perceived barriers regarding the assessment and management of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity. Available research, however, has suggested that recommended guidelines are not being fully implemented and adhered to ([Bauer, 2002], [Cabana et al., 1999] and [Cook et al., 2005]), suggesting that provider practice behavior skills need to be strengthened. Continuing education offerings and conference forums might be used to provide the most up-to-date information about new practice techniques and provide participants the opportunity to practice those new skills. These and other opportunities (such as Web-based programs and frequently updated Web sites) may offer information to assist providers in overcoming frequently encountered barriers (e.g., billing codes frequently accepted by third-party payers and methods to track patient outcomes following treatment sessions) to decrease the sense of futility when working with overweight children and their families. Multiple strategies will be needed to address the increased prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity and the growing prevalence of associated co-morbid health conditions occurring in the child population. Pediatric health care providers have frequent contact with many children and families and thus are in a unique position to affect child health at the individual or family level. Additionally, through active involvement in various professional and community organizations, child health care providers can provide accurate information regarding the increasing prevalence of child overweight and obesity to parents and families, which may affect parental attitudes and recognition of this national health dilemma.