Karen M Ashe1, Alan C Geller2, Jyothi A Pendharkar1, Lori Pbert1, Sybil Crawford1, Melissa A Clark1, Christine F Frisard1, Cassie A Eno3, Jamie Faro1, Judith K Ockene4. 1. Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. 2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. 4. Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. Electronic address: judith.ockene@umassmed.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Clinical guidelines support physician intervention consistent with the Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange framework for adults who have obesity. However, weight management counseling curricula vary across medical schools. It is unknown how frequently students receive experiences in weight management counseling, such as instruction, observation, and direct experience. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, conducted in 2017, of 730 third-year medical students in 8 U.S. medical schools assessed the frequency of direct patient, observational, and instructional weight management counseling experiences that were reported as summed scores with a range of 0‒18. Analysis was completed in 2017. RESULTS: Students reported the least experience with receiving instruction (6.5, SD=3.9), followed by direct patient experience (8.6, SD=4.8) and observational experiences (10.3, SD=5.0). During the preclinical years, 79% of students reported a total of ≤3 hours of combined weight management counseling instruction in the classroom, clinic, doctor's office, or hospital. The majority of the students (59%-76%) reported never receiving skills-based instruction for weight management counseling. Of the Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange framework, scores were lowest for assisting the patient to achieve their agreed-upon goals (31%) and arranging follow-up contact (22%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall exposure to weight management counseling was less than optimal. Medical school educators can work toward developing a more coordinated approach to weight management counseling.
INTRODUCTION: Clinical guidelines support physician intervention consistent with the Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange framework for adults who have obesity. However, weight management counseling curricula vary across medical schools. It is unknown how frequently students receive experiences in weight management counseling, such as instruction, observation, and direct experience. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, conducted in 2017, of 730 third-year medical students in 8 U.S. medical schools assessed the frequency of direct patient, observational, and instructional weight management counseling experiences that were reported as summed scores with a range of 0‒18. Analysis was completed in 2017. RESULTS: Students reported the least experience with receiving instruction (6.5, SD=3.9), followed by direct patient experience (8.6, SD=4.8) and observational experiences (10.3, SD=5.0). During the preclinical years, 79% of students reported a total of ≤3 hours of combined weight management counseling instruction in the classroom, clinic, doctor's office, or hospital. The majority of the students (59%-76%) reported never receiving skills-based instruction for weight management counseling. Of the Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange framework, scores were lowest for assisting the patient to achieve their agreed-upon goals (31%) and arranging follow-up contact (22%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall exposure to weight management counseling was less than optimal. Medical school educators can work toward developing a more coordinated approach to weight management counseling.
Authors: T J Orchard; M Temprosa; E Barrett-Connor; S E Fowler; R B Goldberg; K J Mather; S M Marcovina; M Montez; R E Ratner; C D Saudek; H Sherif; K E Watson Journal: Diabet Med Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 4.359
Authors: Judith K Ockene; Karen M Ashe; Rashelle B Hayes; Linda C Churchill; Sybil L Crawford; Alan C Geller; Denise Jolicoeur; Barbara C Olendzki; Maria Theresa Basco; Jyothi A Pendharkar; Kristi J Ferguson; Thomas P Guck; Katherine L Margo; Catherine A Okuliar; Monica A Shaw; Taraneh Soleymani; Diane D Stadler; Sarita S Warrier; Lori Pbert Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2017-11-09 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: A T Dalcin; G J Jerome; S L Fitzpatrick; T A Louis; N-Y Wang; W L Bennett; N Durkin; J M Clark; G L Daumit; L J Appel; J W Coughlin Journal: Obes Sci Pract Date: 2015-09-09