Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Joanne Minnick

Abstract

The high prevalence of obesity continues to pose significant health challenges globally. According to the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force, obesity affects more than 35% of men and 40% of women in the United States. The national annual cost of medical care related to obesity is estimated at $147 to $210 billion. Intensive behavioral interventions in adults with obesity can lead to clinically sufficient improvements. The project aimed to determine if the current evidence-based clinical guideline of behavioral weight loss interventions to prevent obesity-related morbidity and mortality in adults would improve primary care providers’ knowledge of adult obesity management. The DNP project created an educational model to review behavioral weight-loss interventions to manage adult obesity in primary care. The staff education program was developed using the chronic care model, the analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate model, and integrated behavioral health care. Five primary care providers in a primary care setting in Maryland participated in the educational module. Pretests and posttests were administered to participants to determine if there were any changes in staff knowledge regarding using behavioral weight loss intervention to manage obese adults. The pretest scores ranged between 88% and 100%; posttest scores ranged between 96% and 100%. A comparison of the scores indicates no significant differences in knowledge. The recommendation is to continue using the module to teach staff nurses and medical assistants. The project could have implications for positive social changes by enhancing staff knowledge of obesity management using behavioral weight loss intervention, leading to improved patient health outcomes and decreased health care costs.

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