Solution Focused Approach in Adolescents (SFA)
Condition: Obesity; Overweight and Obesity; Adolescent Obesity
MeSH terms: Obesity; Overweight; Pediatric Obesity
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Aims-objectives: This study assessed the effect of the Solution Focused Approach (SFA)
      interview technique on overweight/obese adolescents' nutrition-exercise attitudes and
      behaviors.

      Background: Obesity is a serious health problem for all age groups, particularly adolescents;
      therefore, it is important for adolescents to develop healthy nutrition habits, acquire
      exercise behaviors. Unless healthy nutrition-exercise behaviors are acquired, obesity can
      develop in adolescence, continue in adulthood. Focusing on solutions can be effective for
      overweight/obese adolescents to develop healthy nutrition-exercise behaviors.

      Design: A pretest-posttest randomized-controlled trial design was used.

      Methods: The study included 32 overweight/obese adolescents (16 for intervention group, 16
      for control group) aged12-13 years who attended a health center, met the inclusion criteria.
      The SFA interview technique was applied to the intervention group. Eight solution-focused
      interviews were conducted with each adolescent at two-week intervals (interview length 30 to
      45minutes). For each group, anthropometric, metabolic measurement follow-ups were conducted
      in the first and sixth months. The data were evaluated using independent samples t-test,
      Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon test respectively for normally, non-normally distributed variables.
      The categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. The value p<0.05 was accepted
      to be statistically significant.
    

Detailed description: 
      Solution Focused Approach (SFA) interview technique is an approach that can be used by nurses
      who have important roles in the protection, maintenance and promotion of health in healthcare
      services. Because the SFA interview technique can be integrated into all dimensions of
      health, it enables children and adolescents to be aware of their own strengths and skills and
      to improve their skills. This raised awareness encourages individuals to start and maintain
      change. The earlier the awareness of individuals is raised, the higher the achievement level
      of the approach will increase. Further studies can be conducted in which the duration of the
      SFA interview technique follow-ups is longer. Moreover, it can be suggested that studies be
      conducted to analyze the cost-effectiveness of this approach.

      All health professionals in general and, specifically nurses, should be educated about the
      SFA interview technique strategies. Nurses who carry out the SFA interviews conducted using
      the SFA interview technique should enable individuals to realize their own strengths. The
      number of interviews can be determined in accordance with the topic and the data obtained
      from individuals. If the interviews are carried out with school children-adolescents,
      attention should be paid to conduct interviews with their families. Enabling individuals to
      reach a solution using the SFA interview technique strategies is the major point of
      interviews. This result may not appear immediately. Interviews should be continued with
      patience to find what works in resistant individuals.

      After these interviews are completed, interviews should be continued with the individuals
      periodically. To enable individuals to maintain their nutrition and exercise behaviors,
      interviews should be carried out with adolescents and their families at least twice in a
      month after the SFA interviews. Nurses who conduct SFA interviews can carry out individual
      interviews or group interviews in Endocrinology Polyclinics, Family Health Centers, or at
      schools as a school nurse.
    

Intervention name(s): solution-focused interview technique
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): This approach helps an individual make decisions about behavioral change, focusing particularly on his or her past achievements and looking forward to a time when the problems cease to exist.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Intervention model description: Randomized Controlled Trials
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: SFA interview technique; adolescence; obesity; nutrition; exercise