Submission Type
Innovation Highlight
Abstract
Problem: Lifestyle changes can significantly improve health outcomes for children with obesity and related chronic medical conditions. Families with limited knowledge about effective ways to improve health with lifestyle changes may benefit from frequent interactions with their health care team. This team can provide additional information and support needed to make and sustain lifestyle changes. Though potentially effective, there are often barriers to this care for both providers (limited time and availability of trained axillary staff) and families (missing school and work for frequent appointments).
Approach: A new lifestyle changes program led by nurses was piloted at a primary care clinic based in a rural hospital. Nurses received in-service training, including an overview of motivational interviewing and the fundamentals of obesity pathophysiology and care management. After this training, the nurses met with participating families for 6 trainings at biweekly lunch sessions delivered over 3 months. Each session focused on healthy lifestyle topics using a patient-directed, motivational interviewing model of care, which we termed ``the Wellness Guide program.'' Nurses were surveyed about their satisfaction with the training that they received and their experience facilitating this program. Families were surveyed about their healthy lifestyle choices, confidence in their ability to implement and maintain lifestyle changes before and after participation, and overall satisfaction with the program.
Outcomes: The nurses were satisfied with the training and felt that providing this service positively contributed to their work experience. Participating families reported an overall positive experience. Although not the a priori goal of the pilot study, an unexpected finding was a decrease in body mass index in most participants who completed the program.
Next steps: Given the promising results of our pilot Wellness Guide program, we plan to formalize and deliver the training to additional nurses within our health care system to expand the program to other primary care sites.
Recommended Citation
Helvie, Charlotte; Gordon, Carrie; Buschagen, Audra; Seften, Leah Marie; Palnitkar, Tara; and Faherty, Laura J.
(2025)
"Developing a Healthy Lifestyle Counseling Program in the Medical Home for Pediatric Patients with Obesity: A Pilot Program,"
Journal of Maine Medical Center: Vol. 7
:
Iss.
1
, Article 15.
Available at:
https://doi.org/10.46804/2641-2225.1229
