Abstract
OTs identified challenges to addressing weight management in the primary care setting. The OT Health Routines Screening tool was created to support OTs in providing sensitive care to individuals at risk of obesity.
Primary Author and Speaker: Corrina Holcomb
Additional Authors and Speakers: Ella Schroeder
Contributing Authors: Chloe Muntefering, Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen, Beth Fields, Madeleine Larsen
Obesity decreases meaningful occupational participation. Occupational therapists (OT) offer a potentially valuable role in supporting weight management of patients, yet research demonstrates hesitancy addressing this topic among OTs. The study aimed to support OTs in navigating weight management care. OTs were employed in a participatory design process through five co-design sessions to develop a clinical tool for supporting patients with weight concerns. Participants were: (1) board-certified OTs; (2) working in primary care settings in the U.S.; and (3) English speaking. Participants were recruited from a previous study exploring practice patterns among OTs regarding preventative weight management. We completed 90-minute iterative co-design sessions with six OT co-designers from March-May 2024. Stages of the process consisted of problem identification, solution generation, convergence, prototyping, and evaluation. Data analysis occurred within and between sessions. The sessions were audio-recorded, and data were analyzed between sessions using the Rapid Identification of Themes from Audio-recordings (RITA) method. Participant data was analyzed through descriptive statistics. Problem identification yielded the following themes: (1) weight is a ‘sticky’ topic, (2) stigmatized healthcare messages around weight, and (3) lack of OT referrals for weight management. Solution generation yielded consensus around the creation of a screening tool to: (1) identify challenges in individuals’ health management routines; and (2) identify to other disciplines when OT services could support a patient in their health management routines. Prototype development yielded the OT Health Routines Screening (OTHR). OTs have the expertise to respectfully and holistically address the challenging topic of weight management. The OTHR could be a first step in helping OTs lead conversations about health routines with individuals at risk of obesity.
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