Clear clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for primary care providers (PCPs) are available that address the identification, evaluation, and treatment of obesity. The number of bariatric surgeries being performed is still low when compared to the number of obese Americans. This is despite guidelines, data on the efficacy and safety, and technical advances in bariatric surgery. The purpose of this project was to develop a reproducible educational program for PCPs based on CPGs for the identification, evaluation, and treatment of obesity in adults.
Sixty PCPs from an existing database were electronically sent an Internet survey. The PCPs were asked to identify a list of items of importance to be included in the program. Sixteen of 60 PCPs responded to the survey. The educational program was developed based on their recommendations and pilot tested in a hospital-owned primary care practice association. Sessions were scheduled with office practice managers in 10 offices. Twenty-one of 26 providers attended the program. Eighteen of the 21 providers returned the postprogram survey. Over 70% of the providers reported that the program would improve how they cared for their obese patients, increased their likelihood of adhering to the CPGs for diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of obesity, increased their likelihood of referring their obese patients to a bariatric surgeon, and improved their opinion of bariatric surgery. Use of current CPGs, simple tools, and face-to-face meetings with PCPs may improve the care of obese patients and could be replicated at other practice locations.
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