Lifestyle Medicine Virtual Group Visits: Patient Attendance and Perceived Benefits

Abstract

Lifestyle Medicine Virtual Group Visits (LMVGVs) can be implemented in health systems to address chronic disease care gaps. This study assessed whether patients’ attendance patterns at primary care-based LMVGVs were associated with self-reported changes in lifestyle behaviors. Patients who were scheduled for LMVGVs between September 2020 and April 2022 (N = 261) were mailed a survey between February and April 2022; 124 (48%) respondents completed the survey, and 111 with complete data were included. Mean age (SD) was 60.6 (12.5) years, 73% were female, and 83% were White. Twelve respondents (11%) attended 0, 51 (46%) attended 1-4, and 48 (43%) attended ≥5 LMVGVs. Compared to respondents who attended 1-4 LMVGVs, those who attended ≥5 LMVGVs reported eating healthier (85% vs 41%; P < .001), increasing physical activity (71% vs 37%; P < .001), and losing weight (53% vs 25%; P < .01). Most respondents who attended 1-4 LMVGVs (75%) and ≥5 LMVGVs (89%) reported maintaining lifestyle changes “some” or “a lot.” LMVGV-based programs may be a scalable strategy for promoting healthy behavior change for improved chronic disease care.