WHO Growth Chart Self-Instructional Training Package Meeting the Training Needs of Primary Care & Public Health Practitioners

Background In 2006, the World Health Organization published new growth standards for infants and children Portrayed how children should grow, rather than how a sample did grow Were consistent with “best health practices” for world-wide applicability 2

WHO Growth References in 2007 Prompted by the global surge in childhood obesity Motivated by 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards 3

Collaborative Policy Statement

WHO Growth Charts Adapted for Canada Birth to 24 months: Length for Age/Weight for Age Birth to 24 months: Head Circumference/Weight for Length 2-19 Years: BMI 2-19 Years: Height for Age/Weight for Age 5

Sample of New WHO Growth Charts Adapted for Canada 6

Supporting Consistent Practice Across Canada Funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada Innovations Strategy - Managing Obesity Across the Life-Cycle: An Interventions Approach Collaboration between –Canadian Paediatric Society –Canadian Obesity Network –College of Family Physicians of Canada –Community Health Nurses of Canada –Dietitians of Canada –National Aboriginal Health Organization –NutriSTEP® 7

Project Goal To promote consistent practices in monitoring growth and assessing patterns of linear growth and weight gain in infants, children and adolescents to support healthy child growth and development, using the WHO Growth Charts adapted for Canada 8

Project Objectives Identify the learning and training needs and support materials required of primary care health and public health professionals and interdisciplinary teams Design, develop and implement the training program Evaluate the use of the training package by target audiences Ensure materials included in the training package were appropriate for the general population as well as for minority populations including First Nations people. 9

Content of the Training Package Module 1: Introduction to the WHO Growth Charts – The development of the charts and their strengths Module 2: Monitoring Growth: Measurements & Calculations –Importance of taking accurate measurements –Demonstration of the use of appropriate equipment for weighing and measuring Module 3: Interpreting the WHO Growth Charts –Which growth charts to use for each age –Plotting & interpreting growth accurately 10

Content (continued) Module 4: Childhood Obesity –Co-morbidities related to childhood overweight & obesity –Definition of overweight & obesity using the WHO cut-offs –Factors that influence unhealthy weight gain in children –Current recommendations on how to screen and identify children at risk for overweight or obesity Module 5: Counselling to Support Healthy Growth & Development –Strategies for initiating conversation with families about weight/growth concerns of their children –Promotion of healthy eating and activity practices –Motivational interviewing techniques to support behaviour change 11

Features of the Training Package Informed by a Needs Assessment Survey of primary care and public health practitioners Web-based modular format accessible from Dietitians of Canada website Evidence-based practice guidance Self-pacing narrated PowerPoint videos Peer-reviewed and pilot tested 12

Features (continued) Case scenarios and reflective practice questions to facilitate application of module content to practice Self-scoring pop quizzes and pre/post- knowledge evaluation References and resources for further study A personal certificate of completion 13

Endorsements & Accreditation Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits 14 Accredited by The College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 5 Mainpro-M1 credits

Accessing the Training Package Funding for this project has been made possible through a contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of PHAC. 15