Abstract
Background: Weight discussions between patients and physicians can have a positive impact on patients’ health, yet they occur infrequently in primary care. No study to date has promoted patient-initiated weight discussions. This study aimed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and explore trends of the effect of a waiting room-based pamphlet intervention to promote patient-initiated weight discussions.
Methods: Adults (n=60) with overweight or obesity attending a primary care appointment were recruited from the waiting room and randomized to receive the intervention pamphlet or to a non-intervention control condition. All participants attended their appointment and completed post-appointment assessments.
Results: Three of four feasibility benchmarks were met: 53.5% of participants were eligible after screening (benchmark: >50%), 0% of participants refused because of study focus on weight (benchmark: 80%). Patient acceptability results were significantly higher than benchmark (t(29)=14.73, pd=2.69). Qualitative results from physicians and front desk staff showed similarly high acceptability of the intervention pamphlet and elucidated barriers to implementation such as short appointment times.
Conclusions: The feasibility and acceptability results, particularly the high participant acceptability, are promising for future weight-based interventions in the waiting room. This pilot study laid the groundwork for future efficacy testing of promoting patient-initiated weight discussions in the primary care waiting room.
Recommended Citation
Remmert, Jocelyn E.; McCrea, Leon; Crane, Nicole T.; Gilden, Adam; and Butryn, Meghan L.
(2024)
"A Mixed Methods Acceptability and Feasibility study of a Patient-Initiated Approach to Increasing Weight Communication in Primary Care,"
The Journal of Integrated Primary Care: Vol. 1:
Iss.
3, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/jipc/vol1/iss3/2
