University of Colorado, Denver
The study examines patient weight loss and maintenance, associated predictors (patient health characteristics and demographics), and contextual factors in the practice environment that influence the intervention's adoption, implementation, and sustainability. This will be achieved through a mixed methods implementation study including collection and analysis of de-identified clinical data, surveys, observations, and interviews.
This study will investigate how PATHWEIGH, a weight management tool built into the EPIC electronic health record, in combination with clinician and staff training on the use of PATHWEIGH as a tool, education on effective weight management practices, and practice facilitation to support implementation can facilitate weight loss and maintenance for primary care patients. The study examines patient weight loss and maintenance, associated predictors (patient health characteristics and demographics), and contextual factors in the practice environment that influence the intervention's adoption, impl…
Clinician Inclusion Criteria: * Affiliated with a participating primary care practice * Provide care for adult patients (\>=18 years old) Patient Inclusion Criteria: * All adult patients (age \>18 years) * BMI \>25 kg/m2 * Appointment at a primary care clinic participating in the study Patient Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to participate in weight loss treatment due to factors such as cognitive deficits, non-home residence, or limited life expectancy.
* Documentation and data capture built in the Electronic Health Record * Clinical data support that suggests weight loss approach(es) * Tracking of weight loss progress and weight loss maintenance during patient visits to guide the patient-clinician conversation * Diagnosis and billing in EHR automatically adds the diagnosis of overweight or obesity and links the most common weight-related co-morbidities to ensure adequate provider reimbursement * Evidence-based online training on weight management for clinicians * Practice quality improvement and training for use of PATHWEIGH for weight-prioritized visits through practice coaches/facilitators * Consultation support by practice facilitators with implementing PATHWEIGH and by obesity providers for clinicians with creating patient treatment plans
Within primary care the option to select "Obesity brief HPI", this is a brief historical intake of a patient's weight - when either they or their clinician decides to have a weight-prioritized visit. It is intended to initiate a discussion regarding potential strategies for weight loss (often "eat less, exercise more"). The provider has the discretion to augment or add support as they see fit.