142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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306691
Community-based Pediatric Obesity Prevention Education: A Physician/Dietitian Partnership

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Aleksandra McDonnell, MSN, RN, CRNP , American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Chapter, Media, PA
Tiffany Bransteitter, MSW , Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, PA Department of Health-Bureau of Health Promotion & Risk Reduction, Harrisburg, PA
William J. Cochran, MD, FAAP , Geisinger Pediatrics, Danville, PA
Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND , Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Columbus, OH
Suzanne Yunghans, MBMgt , American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Chapter, Media, PA
Amy Wishner, MSN, RN , PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Media, PA
  
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
  • Purpose: To develop, implement, and evaluate a physician and practice staff comprehensive education program on pediatric obesity evaluation, treatment, and prevention using the Educating Physicians in their Communities (EPIC®) model.
  • Methods:  PA AAP recruited an Advisory Committee composed of pediatricians, PA Department of Health staff, and registered dietitians to work with the EPIC® model of physician and practice staff education to address pediatric obesity. A curriculum was developed, physicians and registered dietitian co-presenters were trained, programs were presented at Pennsylvania practices and professional meetings, and program participants were asked to complete an online evaluation survey. Program impact was also assessed by presenter feedback and the site requests for technical assistance.
  • Results:  From June 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013, 168 programs were presented by trained physician-registered dietitian teams to 3,249 participants, impacting over 1,025,300 patients. Participants were contacted four-eight weeks after their program to complete a short online survey.  The respondents reported an increase in their frequency of: referrals to registered dietitians and weight management programs, weight-for-length and BMI assessments, discussions on nutrition, sleep, screen time, and mental health with parents as part of obesity intervention, promoting daily physical activity, and motivational interviewing techniques.

Conclusions: Targeted behaviors as measured in post-program survey were well-addressed by the program curriculum and presenters. The EPIC® model is well-suited to practice-based pediatric obesity intervention. The program increased interdisciplinary learning and collaboration between pediatricians/family medicine physicians and registered dietitians in pediatric obesity prevention and treatment.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the strong partnership of Pediatrics and dieticians which is not happening across the country to our knowledge. Provide practices/families with community resources to prevent obesity at the local level including access to local registered dieticians.

Keyword(s): Community-Based Partnership & Collaboration, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Ms. Wishner is a Registered Nurse who has more than 10 years of experience. She developed the community-based obesity prevention education program that will be presented during this session and has been directing its implementation and evaluation for more than two years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4054.0: Infant & Child Health: Community Factors related to Obesity