Provider and staff perceptions of veterans' attrition from a national primary care weight management program. Issue 2 (3rd March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arigo, Danielle; Hooker, Stephanie; Funderburk, Jennifer; Dundon, Margaret; Dubbert, Patricia; Evans-Hudnall, Gina; Catanese, Sarah; O'Donohue, Jenny; Dickinson, Eva-Maria; DeMasi, Christine; Downey, Sheri; DeSouza, Cyrus
• Is Part Of: Primary health care research & development. Volume 16:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2014-03-03
• Subjects: Family medicine -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Primary care (Medicine) -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.1094105
• DOI: 10.1017/S1463423614000139
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-4236

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="abs1" sec-type="general"> <title>Background</title> <p>Overweight and obesity are growing problems for primary care. Although effective weight management programs exist, these programs experience significant attrition, which limits effectiveness.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs2" sec-type="objectives"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study examined provider and staff perceptions of attrition from the Veterans Health Administration MOVE!<sup>®</sup> Weight Management Program as an initial step toward understanding attrition from primary care-based programs.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs3" sec-type="general"> <title>Participants</title> <p>MOVE!<sup>®</sup> clinicians, primary care providers, and other staff members who interacted with patients about participating in MOVE!<sup>®</sup> (<italic>n</italic>=754) from Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers throughout the United States. Respondents were predominantly female (80.8%), Caucasian (79.2%), and trained as nurses (L.P.N., R.N., or N.P.; 50%).</p> </sec> <sec id="abs4" sec-type="general"> <title>Measure</title> <p>Participants completed a web-mediated survey; items assessed agreement with personal and programmatic reasons for dropout, and allowed respondents to indicate the number one reason for dropout in an open-ended format. This survey was adapted from an existing tool designed to capture patient perceptions.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs5" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>Respondents indicated that veterans experienced practical barriers to attendance (eg, transportation and scheduling difficulties) and desire for additions to the program (eg, a live exercise component). Low motivation was the primary factor identified by respondents as associated with dropout, particularly as noted by MOVE!<sup>®</sup> clinicians (versus other providers/staff; <italic>P</italic><0.01).</p> </sec> <sec id="abs6" sec-type="conclusions"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These findings suggest that programmatic changes, such as adding additional meeting times or in-session exercise time, may be of benefit to MOVE!<sup>®</sup>. In addition, increasing the use of techniques such as Motivational Interviewing among providers who refer patients to MOVE!<sup>®</sup> may improve participant engagement in MOVE!<sup>®</sup> and other primary care-based weight management programs. Further research is needed to effectively identify those likely to withdraw from weight management programs before achieving their goals, and the reasons for withdrawal.</p> </sec> </abstract>