Promoting Wellness using Motivational Interviewing in Pediatric Obesity

Abstract

The prevalence of pediatric obesity continues to rise, and pediatric primary care providers are centrally placed as initial health care contacts to address prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity. Yet, during routine visits obesity is under-addressed partially due to provider discomfort and lack of confidence in weight counseling (Belay et al., 2019). Current provider counseling approaches focus on weight-based strategies, but these have been ineffective and have the potential to result in poor outcomes (Saul & Rodgers, 2016). In alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), this project aims to increase provider confidence and competence in a pediatric weight management counseling using a wellness forward approach through developing a motivational interviewing skill set. Using online training modules, participants were instructed on the use of motivational interviewing as a tool for pediatric weight management counseling. The training was distributed to DNP students in an academic setting, and pediatric providers in a community hospital system over a 12-week implementation period. A post-module survey was conducted for feedback. This feedback was evaluated and used to support an interval update. An interval survey was conducted to assess sustainability of the project. After implementation, 79% of participants felt they could increase patient motivation to change lifestyle behaviors. Participants rated themselves as moderately confident in weight management counseling and motivational interviewing post-intervention. When elicited to choose a style of counseling post-intervention, 90% (42) of the participants chose motivational interviewing over other styles of counseling. All participants were likely to use motivational interviewing in their practice after the interval update.