Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background : The prevalence of obesity among Canadian adults reached a record high in 2015 (28.1%). Primary care providers (PCPs) play a crucial role regarding the management of this epidemic. Although international literature suggests that the management of obesity in the primary care setting is suboptimal, no Canadian study based on medical record review has yet assessed this issue. The current lack of information is problematic because it makes it impossible to judge the extent of the problem in the country. Moreover, since the aspects of obesity management which represent the greatest challenges for Canadian PCPs remain unidentified, it is difficult to adapt PCPs’ education programs. Objectives of the project: Identify the rates of obesity screening, diagnosis and management in Quebec and evaluate the predictors of obesity management. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 439 adults treated in one of 10 participating family medicine groups (FMG). Anthropometric measurements were performed from each patient as part of an initial visit. The clinical encounter notes of physicians and nurses from every patient medical record were reviewed over an 18 months period in order to detect the presence of documented obesity management interventions. The looked-for interventions were extracted from the Canadian guidelines for the management of obesity. Mixed-effects regression models were used to identify the predictors of obesity management. Results: The rate of obesity screening was low (31%). Among patients with a measured body mass index (BMI) ≥30 (n = 175), 52% had an obesity diagnosis and 38% received physical activity or nutritional counseling during the follow-up period. Patient’s BMI and number of identified comorbidities were independant predictors of obesity diagnosis. The presence of an obesity diagnosis in the medical record and the number of clinical encounters with a nurse during the 18-months period were independent predictors of lifestyle counseling. Eighty percent of screening and diagnoses were performed by physicians. Nurses were considerably more involved in the provision of lifestyle counselling (65 % GPs/35 % nurses). Conclusions : The rates of obesity screening, diagnosis and counselling in Quebec FMGs are suboptimal. Interventions have to be deployed in order to increase the quality of care. Future researches should explore the impact of an enhanced access to specialized nurses and the adaptation of the current initial and continuous education programs on the rates of obesity management.
Author: Paré, Alex
Institutions: Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de recherche du CHUS
Language: English
Topic: Obesity and Health Practices
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7201930066