Counselling parents on young children's healthy diet: A modified scoping review

Aims and objectivesTo map and describe key information in existing research about counselling of parents of children aged 0-2years on the child's healthy diet in preventive healthcare settings, particularly in public health nursing. BackgroundMany parents are likely to be concerned with their infant's food-related happiness here and now, disregarding the child's long-term health and development related to feeding practices. Hence, a focus on counselling parents in considering young children's healthy diet is important. DesignA modified scoping review with an inductive qualitative content analysis of selected empirical studies. MethodsSystematic searches in EMBASE (1996-2015 Week 46), Ovid Nursing Database (1946-2015 November Week 1), Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid OLDMEDLINE (200018 November 2015) and CINAHL (200022 December 2015), using search terms based on aims. ResultsEight included studies, with participants per sample ranging from 19->500. Research designs were focus group discussions and/or interview study (n=2), cluster-randomised trials (n=2), randomised controlled trials (n=2), a follow-up interview study (n=1) to a previous randomised controlled trial and a cross-sectional electronic questionnaire study (n=1). The studies included a total sample of 2,025 participants, 42 of them in interview studies. Findings indicate parents' perceptions of inconsistency, misconceptions and uncertainty related to the recommendations on child feeding from the authorities. Thus, adapted advice could impact healthier child diet. Maternal knowledge on child feeding and reduced use of food as a reward are mediators for improved diet quality in children. ConclusionsCounselling on young children's healthy diet should be anticipatory, consistent and adapted to the family. Relevance to clinical practiceDue to inconsistent recommendations and omitted focus on anticipatory counselling on child feeding, parents might perceive pressure and uncertainty related to the child's diet.