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Feasibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a telephone-based weight loss program delivered via a hospital outpatient setting

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Translational Behavioral Medicine

An Erratum to this article was published on 23 March 2017

Abstract

Engaging patients in a group-based weight loss program is a challenge for the acute-care hospital outpatient setting. To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a telephone-based weight loss service and an existing face-to-face, group-based service a non-randomised, two-arm feasibility trial was used. Patients who declined a two-month existing outpatient group-based program were offered a six-month research-based telephone program. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, two months (both groups) and six months (telephone program only) using paired t tests and linear regression models. Cost per healthy life year gained was calculated for both programs. The telephone program achieved significant weight loss (−4.1 ± 5.0 %; p = 0.001) for completers (n = 35; 57 % of enrolees) at six months. Compared to the group-based program (n = 33 completers; 66 %), the telephone program was associated with greater weight loss (mean difference [95%CI] −2.0 % [−3.4, −0.6]; p = 0.007) at two months. The cost per healthy life year gained was $33,000 and $85,000, for the telephone and group program, respectively. Telephone-delivered weight management services may be effective and cost-effective within an acute-care hospital setting, likely more so than usual (group-based) care.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Queensland Health, Health Practitioner Grant (2011). MEW is supported by Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship. IJH is supported by a Queensland Health, Health Practitioner Research Grant and a Lions Medical Research Fellowship. EGE is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Research Fellowship. MMR is supported by a National Breast Cancer Foundation Early Career Fellowship. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of clinical staff including Melissa Gwizd, Amy Davis, Louise Cooney, Emily Power, Scott Honeyball and Steven McPhail, as well as the Princess Alexandra Hospital Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Department of Diabetes.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Prevention Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    M. E. Whelan, A. D. Goode, E. G. Eakin, E. A. H. Winkler & M. M. Reeves

  2. School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    J. L. Veerman

  3. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia

    I. J. Hickman

  4. The Mater Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia

    I. J. Hickman

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  1. M. E. Whelan
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  2. A. D. Goode
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  3. E. G. Eakin
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  4. J. L. Veerman
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  5. E. A. H. Winkler
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  6. I. J. Hickman
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  7. M. M. Reeves
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. E. Whelan.

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Implications

Practice: A telephone-based weight loss service may be a feasible, effective and cost-effective alternative service delivery option to an existing group-based program in an acute-care hospital outpatient setting.

Policy: Evaluating alternative and broader-reaching service delivery models for reach, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is important for decision-making in relation to the allocation of scarce health care resources.

Research: Further research needs to address the significant proportion of patients who remain unengaged with existing weight management services.

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13142-016-0416-6.

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Whelan, M.E., Goode, A.D., Eakin, E.G. et al. Feasibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a telephone-based weight loss program delivered via a hospital outpatient setting. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 6, 386–395 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-015-0337-9

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