DescriptionAbstract Purpose: To improve active screening and management of overweight and obesity in the primary care setting.
Methodology: Measurement of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) is a common practice in the primary care setting. This project involved improving provider recognition of BMIs at or above 25 and weight management to include diagnosis, provision of diet and exercise education, and referral to a dietary counselor in severe or refractory cases. Management was facilitated by the 5A’s communication strategy. Core measures included the number of patients screened, the number of patients screened positive for overweight or obesity, the number of patients diagnosed, the number of patients given diet and exercise education, and the number of patients referred for dietary counseling.
Results: A total of 421 patients were included in the final data evaluation. On a 0.05 level of significance, no measures proved to be statistically significant. However, from a clinically significant standpoint, frequencies showed that more patients were diagnosed (p = 0.078; 2-weeks pre n = 1, 2-weeks post n = 6, 6-weeks post n = 15) and provided education post-implementation (p = 0.215; 2-weeks pre n = 9, 2-weeks post n = 15, 6-weeks post n = 32) compared to the pre-implementation phase.
Implications for Practice: Active screening and management is an important component to prevention and mitigation of chronic disease and disability and improves quality of life. Successful management may improve economic burden and increase insurance reimbursements to providers. This project was successful in creating provider awareness of at risk or harmful body mass indexes, methods of weight management delivery, communication strategies, and barriers that prevent successful management. Keywords: Obesity, primary care, obesity screening, weight management, quality improvement, communication strategies, education.