Primary Care Management of Obesity in Patients with Mental Illness: An Educational Intervention

Abstract

Obesity is highly prevalent and results in poor health outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality. Mentally ill patients are at increased risk for obesity and other health disparities that result in significantly reduced life expectancy. Primary care providers (PCP’s) are first line defense in the obesity epidemic. A brief education intervention on obesity management in patients with mental illness was presented to PCP’s at a community clinic to educate them on obesity management in patients with mental illness. A pre-and posttest was devised to assess current practice and intent to utilize knowledge. Results indicate that post intervention all provider agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident treating obesity indicating success of the presentation. Short-term implications of this project are better treatment for a high-risk population. More broadly, this project further adds to the current literature another example that brief educational interventions are beneficial for healthcare providers to help enable best evidence based practice.