The Article in Brief
Effectiveness of 2 Methods of Promoting Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, and Emotional Well-Being With the Americans in Motion--Healthy Interventions Approach
Wilson D. Pace , and colleagues
Background Americans In Motion--Healthy Interventions (AIM-HI) promotes healthy lifestyle choices related to nutrition, physical activity, and emotional well-being. This study compares patient-level outcomes between family medicine practices using 2 different methods to implement the AIM-HI tools.
What This Study Found There were impressive before and after improvements in patient outcomes but no differences between 2 different approaches to implementing AIM-HI. Pratices used either an enhanced practice approach (used AIM-HI tools to help office staff make personal changes and create a healthy practice environment) or a traditional practice approach (were trained and asked to use the tools directly with patients). There were no significant differences in patient-outcomes between the 2 groups. Regardless of practice group, 16 percent of patients who completed a 10-month visit (378 patients) and 10 percent of all patients enrolled lost 5 percent or more of their body weight. Of the patients who completed a 10-month visit, 17 percent had a 2-point or greater increase in their fitness level and 29 percent lost 5 percent or more of their body weight and/or increased their fitness level by 2 or more points.
Implications
- The lack of difference between the 2 groups may be due to study design, patient selection, the nonprescriptive approach of AIM-HI, and already established physician workplace wellness activities that motivated clinicians to intervene with patients.