Training Program for Obesity Counseling

(MRWeight Trial)

Recruiting at 8 trial locations

Overseen By RAJANI SADASIVAM, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Disqualifiers: Non-PGY1 residents, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

630 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to enhance how well medical residents learn to counsel patients about weight management. It tests a new training program called MRWeight (Medical Residents Learning Weight Management Counseling Skills), which includes email modules and educational sessions. Researchers seek to determine if this training helps residents use these skills more effectively with their patients. Residents in a similar program will serve as a comparison group to measure the impact. The trial seeks first-year medical residents (PGY1) from participating sites that can incorporate this program into their training. As an unphased trial, this study offers residents a unique opportunity to enhance their counseling skills, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What prior data suggests that this training program is safe for medical residents?

Research has shown that the MRWeight program is safe for training medical residents. In one study, a 3-hour course on obesity counseling increased the confidence of 19 primary care residents in their counseling skills, with no safety issues reported. The program emphasizes skill improvement rather than medications or treatments, resulting in no physical side effects. Participants engage in educational sessions and receive support through email modules, both of which are safe and non-invasive. Overall, the program aims to better prepare residents for weight management counseling. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it aims to enhance how medical residents counsel patients on weight management. Unlike traditional methods, which might focus solely on providing dietary and exercise advice, this program integrates multiple learning tools like email modules and video assessments to improve communication skills. By combining educational sessions with practical assessments, the trial seeks to develop more effective counseling techniques, potentially leading to better patient outcomes in managing obesity.

What evidence suggests that the MRWeight program is effective for improving weight management counseling skills?

Studies have shown that the MRWeight program can significantly enhance doctors' skills in helping patients manage their weight. One study revealed that doctors who completed training on obesity care felt much more confident, with uncertainty dropping from 75% to 37.5%. Another study found that these doctors discussed obesity management more frequently with their patients, leading to improvements in various areas of care. Importantly, patients of trained doctors tended to lose more weight compared to those whose doctors did not receive the training. In this trial, residents in the intervention arm will receive additional MRWeight program training components, potentially enhancing how doctors support patients in managing their weight. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rajani Sadasivam, PhD

Principal Investigator

UMass Chan Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Arm Experimental Treatment 5 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 Arm Active Control 1 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.

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 3-hour obesity counseling curriculum significantly improved the self-assessed competence of 19 primary care residents in various aspects of obesity counseling, including assessing patients' readiness for change and using motivational interviewing techniques.

The proportion of residents feeling less competent in obesity counseling dropped from 75% to 37.5% after the curriculum, indicating a meaningful enhancement in their skills, particularly in the 'Assess,' 'Advise,' and 'Assist' domains of the 5As model.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing and counseling the obese patient: Improving resident obesity counseling competence. Iyer, S., Jay, M., Southern, W., et al.[2019]

Primary care residency programs in Ohio provide limited training on obesity, nutrition, and physical activity (averaging only 2.8 hours of related didactics per year), which is essential for preparing physicians to counsel patients effectively.

Despite some programs teaching health behavior counseling techniques, residents reported poorer attitudes and perceived norms towards counseling on obesity, indicating a gap between training and the expectations placed on primary care physicians.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Primary Care Resident Training for Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Counseling: A Mixed-Methods Study. Antognoli, EL., Seeholzer, EL., Gullett, H., et al.[2021]

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching Second-Year Medical Students How to Counsel Pediatric Patients With Unhealthy Body Mass Index. Ahuja, TK., John, JT., Olvet, DM., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 27 studies from 2005 to 2018 revealed a significant lack of obesity education programs for medical students, residents, and fellows worldwide, despite the high prevalence of obesity.

When obesity education programs were implemented, they notably improved outcomes such as counseling confidence, which received an overall grade A, indicating that enhancing education in this area could lead to better treatment for patients with obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Obesity education in medical schools, residencies, and fellowships throughout the world: a systematic review. Mastrocola, MR., Roque, SS., Benning, LV., et al.[2021]

Training and practical tools significantly improved the confidence, ease, and frequency of obesity-related counseling among pediatricians, with a notable increase in scores for both resident (n=49) and community pediatricians (n=18) after the intervention.

The study highlights that providing evidence-based resources and training can effectively enhance pediatricians' ability to address childhood obesity, suggesting that similar educational programs could be beneficial for broader implementation in medical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bolstering confidence in obesity prevention and treatment counseling for resident and community pediatricians. Perrin, EM., Jacobson Vann, JC., Lazorick, S., et al.[2023]

The 5As of Obesity Management™ course significantly improved family medicine residents' attitudes and confidence in obesity counseling, with notable pre/post improvements in their ability to assess, advise, and assist patients, as evidenced by significant changes in BAOP scores (p < .001).

Experiential learning components, such as the bariatric empathy suit and patient practice, were crucial in enhancing residents' empathetic engagement with patients, indicating that hands-on experiences can effectively improve training outcomes in obesity management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving obesity management training in family medicine: multi-methods evaluation of the 5AsT-MD pilot course. Luig, T., Wicklum, S., Heatherington, M., et al.[2020]

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Management of obesity in primary care. Simkin-Silverman, LR., Wing, RR.[2019]

The MSWeight study is a randomized controlled trial involving eight U.S. medical schools aimed at improving weight management counseling (WMC) skills among medical students through a multi-modal educational intervention, which includes innovative teaching methods like a web course and role-playing exercises.

Preliminary outcomes will assess whether this new curriculum enhances observed WMC skills and boosts students' confidence in their counseling abilities, potentially leading to better training in addressing the obesity epidemic in future physicians.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and rationale of the medical students learning weight management counseling skills (MSWeight) group randomized controlled trial. Ockene, JK., Ashe, KM., Hayes, RB., et al.[2021]

A study of 1,305 first-year medical students revealed that over half had prior patient care experiences related to weight management, which positively influenced their confidence and intentions to counsel patients on obesity.

The findings suggest that medical schools could enhance their curriculum by building on students' existing experiences in weight management, potentially improving future physicians' ability to support patients in managing their weight.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Weight management counseling experiences of first year medical students before starting medical school and their self-perceived impact on treating patients with obesity. Pendharkar, JA., Frisard, CF., Geller, AC., et al.[2023]

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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]

Citations

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