Annals of Family Medicine Annals Impact Factor is 4.5
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Annals of Family Medicine 6:S33-S36 (2008)
© 2008 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
doi: 10.1370/afm.780
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Supplemental data: Figure
Right arrow TRACK Comments: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when TRACK Comments are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stephens, G. S.
Right arrow Articles by Chumley, H. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stephens, G. S.
Right arrow Articles by Chumley, H. S.

Visual Prompt Poster for Promoting Patient-Physician Conversations on Weight Loss

Gillian S. Stephens, MD, MSc1, Stephanie E. Blanken, MD2, K. Allen Greiner, MD, MPH3 and Heidi S. Chumley, MD3

1 Department of Community and Family Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
2 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Francis Health Center, Topeka, Kansas
3 Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Gillian S. Stephens, MD, MSc, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Saint Louis University, 1402 S Grand Blvd St Louis, MO 63104 gstephe1{at}slu.edu

PURPOSE This study investigated the effect of a simple visual prompt in the form of a poster on the occurrence of patient-physician weight loss conversations during routine office encounters in a primary care outpatient clinic.

METHODS We conducted a 2-phase study in a family medicine residency program outpatient clinic in August and September 2006. During the first phase, lasting 5 days, we surveyed all nonpregnant adult patients (preintervention group) about weight loss. We then implemented a visual prompt in the form of a colorful poster (11 x 17 inches) in both English and Spanish. The poster read "Do you want to lose weight? Ask your doctor today!" and included a picture of a bathroom scale. During the second phase, also lasting 5 days, we again surveyed all nonpregnant adult patients (postintervention group).

RESULTS Analyses were based on 283 patients in the preintervention group and 386 patients in the postintervention group. The mean body mass index, obtained from medical records, did not differ significantly between groups (31 vs 32 kg/m2, respectively). Fully 60% of patients in the postintervention group recalled seeing the poster during their visit; however, the percentage of patients who reported discussing weight loss with their physician did not differ between the preintervention and postintervention groups overall (29% vs 27%), among the two-thirds of patients who wanted to lose weight (26% vs 23%), or when only postintervention patients who saw the poster were included in the comparison (29% vs 29%). The large majority of patients in both groups who had such discussions—82% and 77%—indicated that they found them useful; the difference between groups was not significant.

CONCLUSION A simple visual prompt in the form of a poster directed at patients did not increase the occurrence of conversations between patients and their physicians about weight loss.

Key Words: Poster • visual prompt • obesity • overweight • weight loss • motivation • behavior change • physician-patient relations • office visits • primary care






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by the Annals of Family Medicine.