Aims To provide a comprehensive integration of contemporary studies focusing on the relationship between obesity and asthma in paediatric populations. Background The simultaneous increase in asthma and obesity prevalence has been widely discussed over the past twenty years. Although studies have discovered a positive correlation between the two, evidence-based findings are needed to develop nursing interventions. Data Sources An electronic database search was conducted for studies published between January 1966 - May 2011. Additional articles were identified through the reference lists of reviewed papers. Review Methods A quantitative systematic review was undertaken to aggregate evidence regarding the association between obesity and asthma in children. Inclusion/exclusion criteria and quality appraisal were applied to ensure research primarily designed to study the relationship between obesity and asthma in children was included. Results The majority of studies support a positive association between obesity and asthma in children. Among correlates recognized as important effect modifiers, gender was the most prominent, with obese girls more likely to have asthma diagnoses than obese boys. Scrutinization of covariates in selected studies revealed that most related to children's demographic characteristics and were inconsistent across the studies. Conclusions This review was designed to integrate contemporary scientific findings on the association between obesity and asthma by including a large number of studies with variant research designs. To identify high-risk groups and develop nursing interventions to help children affected by both epidemics, more interdisciplinary and well-designed investigations focusing on an expanded spectrum of correlates including demographic and behavioural factors are warranted.

This study reviewed historical nursing intervention studies in Taiwan and analyzed results based on sample characteristics, methodology characteristics, and content characteristics. Historical studies were split into four groups, G1970, G1980, G1990, and G2000, based on the decade in which they were published. A comparison was then made to identify significant differences between G2000 and other groups. A total of 103 nursing intervention studies were analyzed in this study. Results included sample characteristics of studies conducted primarily by single-disciplinary research teams, although multidisciplinary studies showed a growth trend across decades, with the number of multidisciplinary studies significantly greater in G2000 than in other decades. Nursing practice was the main area of research, clients were the major participants studied, and hospitals provided the principal research setting. No statistical difference was noted in the above mentioned variables. In terms of methodology characteristics, questionnaires were used most frequently to collect data. A quasi-experimental design was the primary research design employed. Although the number of experimental designs has increased significantly in recent years, most studies specified their inclusion criteria. Reliability and validity of instruments were more clearly specified in recent decade groups than in earlier decade groups. Methodology rigor has improved in recent years, achieving a statistically significant difference between G2000 and other groups in all categories, with the exception of instrument validity. In terms of content characteristics, health education was the leading intervention type. Most interventions were categorized as tertiary prevention, with perceptual outcome used most often as the outcome indicator. However, no statistical differences in content dimension variables were identified between G2000 and other groups. In summary, the number of nursing intervention research cases has risen, and research methodology rigor has improved in recent decades. However, no statistically significant differences in sample characteristics and content characteristics between the most recent and earlier decade groups were found. Suggestions for future domestic nursing intervention studies based on study findings are made at the conclusion of this article.

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