630 Participants Needed

Training Program for Obesity Counseling

(MRWeight Trial)

Recruiting at 7 trial locations
RS
Overseen ByRAJANI SADASIVAM, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants must stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment MRWeight for obesity counseling?

Research shows that training programs for physicians significantly improve their ability to counsel patients about weight management. For example, physicians who received training in weight control techniques increased their counseling frequency from 42% to 89% and improved their counseling quality scores from 2.7 to 9.9, indicating that similar training programs like MRWeight could be effective.12345

Is the Training Program for Obesity Counseling safe for participants?

The available research on the Training Program for Obesity Counseling, including studies under different names like MRWeight and MSWeight, focuses on improving counseling skills in medical students and residents. There is no specific safety data mentioned, but the program involves educational interventions, which are generally considered safe.13567

How is the MRWeight treatment for obesity counseling different from other treatments?

The MRWeight treatment is unique because it focuses on training medical residents in weight management counseling skills, using a structured curriculum that includes innovative components like web-courses and role-playing exercises. This approach aims to improve the counseling skills of future doctors, which is not typically emphasized in traditional medical education.568910

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to addresses the lack of weight management training physicians receive during their residency training. The main questions it aims to answer are:* How affective is the MRWeight curriculum at increasing medical residents weight management counseling (WMC) skills.* Evaluate residents' adoption of WMC skills in encounters with their patients* what would be the best way to get residents to adopt the WMC skills Residents in the comparison group will receive a course on obesity and weight management. The residents in the intervention group will have to attend 2 informational sessions and will receive 6 email modules on WMC. Both groups will also take part in 3 assessments over the course of 18 months to see which group has better WMC skills.

Research Team

Rajani Sadasivam, PhD

Rajani Sadasivam, PhD

Principal Investigator

UMass Chan Medical School

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for medical residents who lack training in weight management counseling. Participants should be willing to undergo assessments and engage with various educational materials, including a foundational course, email modules, and informational sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

All PGY1 residents in participating sites

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Residents in the intervention arm receive 6 email modules, practice video communication assessments, and attend 2 educational sessions on weight management counseling.

12 months
2 educational sessions (in-person), multiple email modules

Assessment

Residents in both arms participate in 3 assessments, including surveys and video communication assessments, to evaluate WMC skills.

18 months
3 assessments (online surveys and video assessments)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the adoption of WMC skills in clinical practice.

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • MRWeight
Trial Overview The study tests the MRWeight curriculum's effectiveness in improving medical residents' skills in advising patients on weight loss. It compares traditional obesity education with an intervention that includes didactic sessions and email reinforcement over 18 months.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Intervention ArmExperimental Treatment5 Interventions
Residents in the intervention arm will receive (in addition to the core foundation course) 6 email modules and practice video communication assessments on weight management counseling. They will also attend 2 educational session and take part in all 3 assessments (including 3 surveys and 2 video communication assessments) over the course of 18 months.
Group II: Comparison ArmActive Control1 Intervention
Residents in comparison arm receive a core foundation course and will take part in all 3 assessments (including 3 surveys and 2 video communication assessments) over the course of 18 months.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials
372
Recruited
998,000+

Penn State University

Collaborator

Trials
380
Recruited
131,000+

Stanford University

Collaborator

Trials
2,527
Recruited
17,430,000+

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Collaborator

Trials
302
Recruited
11,690,000+

Temple University

Collaborator

Trials
321
Recruited
89,100+

Stony Brook University

Collaborator

Trials
225
Recruited
41,700+

Boston University

Collaborator

Trials
494
Recruited
9,998,000+

University of California, Davis

Collaborator

Trials
958
Recruited
4,816,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials
2,513
Recruited
4,366,000+

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials
299
Recruited
82,500+

Findings from Research

The Video-based Communication Assessment (VCA) was successfully developed and tested with 16 Internal Medicine residents, showing it to be an engaging and effective tool for training in weight management counseling (WMC).
Residents found the VCA helpful for practicing real-life patient scenarios, receiving personalized feedback, and improving their skills, indicating its potential to enhance WMC in clinical practice.
Video-based communication assessment for weight management counseling training in medical residents: a mixed methods study.Faro, JM., D'Addario, A., King, AM., et al.[2023]
Training physicians in obesity-counseling skills significantly increased their ability to discuss weight with patients, with counseling frequency rising from 42% to 89% after training.
The quality of counseling also improved dramatically, with scores increasing from a mean of 2.7 to 9.9 in the trained group, demonstrating that targeted training can enhance physician-patient interactions regarding obesity.
Management of obesity in primary care.Simkin-Silverman, LR., Wing, RR.[2019]
An interactive training session for second-year medical students significantly improved their self-assessed knowledge, comfort, and confidence in counseling about pediatric weight management, indicating its effectiveness in preparing future physicians.
The training also led to successful application of weight management counseling skills during simulated patient encounters, highlighting the importance of practical experience in medical education to combat childhood obesity.
Teaching Second-Year Medical Students How to Counsel Pediatric Patients With Unhealthy Body Mass Index.Ahuja, TK., John, JT., Olvet, DM., et al.[2023]

References

Video-based communication assessment for weight management counseling training in medical residents: a mixed methods study. [2023]
Management of obesity in primary care. [2019]
Teaching Second-Year Medical Students How to Counsel Pediatric Patients With Unhealthy Body Mass Index. [2023]
Weight management counseling experiences of first year medical students before starting medical school and their self-perceived impact on treating patients with obesity. [2023]
Bolstering confidence in obesity prevention and treatment counseling for resident and community pediatricians. [2023]
Design and rationale of the medical students learning weight management counseling skills (MSWeight) group randomized controlled trial. [2021]
Obesity education in medical schools, residencies, and fellowships throughout the world: a systematic review. [2021]
Assessing and counseling the obese patient: Improving resident obesity counseling competence. [2019]
Primary Care Resident Training for Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Counseling: A Mixed-Methods Study. [2021]
Improving obesity management training in family medicine: multi-methods evaluation of the 5AsT-MD pilot course. [2020]
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