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Surveying the Knowledge and Practices of Primary Care Residents in Managing Adult Patients with Obesity

  • Original Research: Qualitative Research
  • Published:
Journal of General Internal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate, yet obesity remains under-addressed during clinic encounters. A lack of training in how to treat obesity is one crucial factor contributing to this deficiency.

Objective

This study explored resident physicians’ perceptions of their education on obesity and its relationship with confidence and practice behaviors when caring for patients with obesity.

Design

A survey was distributed to residency directors to share with residents in their programs. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Data was collected over a 3-month period.

Participants

Residents in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine programs in West Virginia and Indiana who saw adult patients in an ambulatory care setting.

Main Measures

The electronic survey queried the presence of a formal curriculum on Obesity Medicine (OM) and each resident’s knowledge, confidence, practice behaviors, and attitudes pertaining to OM.

Key Results

The survey was distributed to 490 residents in 12 programs. Response rate was 22.9% (112 resident physicians). All respondents felt that medical training in obesity should be strengthened. Residents who reported having a formal curriculum on OM were more likely than those without a curriculum to rate their confidence as “high” when discussing weight (35.0% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.03) and when counseling patients about diet and nutrition (37.5% vs. 18.1%, p = 0.02). They also more frequently reported learning enough from faculty to manage obesity (65.0% vs. 29.2%, p < 0.001). Residents with an OM curriculum reported discussing obesity as a problem with patients (100.0% vs. 86.1%, p = 0.01), and completing motivational interviews (90.0% vs. 58.3%, p =  < 0.001), more frequently than their peers without a curriculum.

Conclusions

Residents with a formal OM curriculum were more confident in addressing and discussing obesity with patients. Formal training in OM will strengthen resident training to better address and treat patients with obesity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Charleston Area Medical Center and WVU School of Medicine-Charleston Division, Charleston, WV, USA

    Amna Anees MD, FACP, Dipl. ABOM

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Zeb Ijaz Saeed MD

  3. Charleston Area Medical Center Institute for Academic Medicine, Charleston, WV, USA

    Suzanne Kemper MPH

  4. Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine and WVU Medicine’s Medical Weight Management Program, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Treah Haggerty MD

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine and WVU Medicine’s Medical Weight Management Program, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Laura Davisson MD, FACP

Authors
  1. Amna Anees MD, FACP, Dipl. ABOM
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  2. Zeb Ijaz Saeed MD
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  3. Suzanne Kemper MPH
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Correspondence to Amna Anees MD, FACP, Dipl. ABOM.

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Anees, A., Saeed, Z.I., Kemper, S. et al. Surveying the Knowledge and Practices of Primary Care Residents in Managing Adult Patients with Obesity. J GEN INTERN MED (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-024-08777-9

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