Educating Health Care Professionals in Advocacy for Childhood Obesity Prevention in Their Communities: Integrating Public Health and Primary Care in the Be Our Voice Project

Abstract

Objectives. We assessed the perceived need for and the effectiveness of the Be Our Voice advocacy training. In this training, health care professionals learned public health strategies to advocate for environmental systems changes to prevent childhood obesity in their communities. Methods. We assessed 13 trainings across 8 pilot sites. We conducted 2 rounds of surveys with participants—pre-training (n = 287, 84% response rate) and immediately post-training (n = 254, 75% response rate)—and semi-structured interviews with participants after training (n = 25). Results. We uncovered essential and promising elements of the training. Primary care providers found the Be Our Voice training effective at building their comfort with and motivation for engaging in public health advocacy; they reported achieving learning objectives, and they had positive responses to the training overall and to specific sessions. They articulated the need for the training and plans for advocacy in their communities. Conclusions. The Be Our Voice training provides an opportunity to integrate primary care providers into public health, community-based advocacy. It may be a model for future educational offerings for health care professionals in graduate and postgraduate training and in practice.

Expanding the Role of Primary Care in the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity: A Review of Clinic- and Community-Based Recommendations and Interventions

“…Although multisector community initiatives have used policy advocacy successfully to alter obesogenic community environments [88], one article reported on an initiative to increase public advocacy activity among PCPs [89]. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the project sought to recruit, train, and reinforce 160 PCPs to become change agents and leaders in community advocacy to prevent childhood obesity.…”

Effect of Advocacy Training During Dental Education on Pediatric Dentists’ Interest in Advocating for Community Water Fluoridation

“…9 The knowledge they gain from this experience can equip them to be effective advocates to mediate positive changes in individualand population-level health outcomes. 11 CWF initiatives are supported by many national and worldwide organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Public Health Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Health Organization. 10 To be effective political agents, future health care professionals, including dentists, should be trained in advocacy and public participation.…”

“…10 To be effective political agents, future health care professionals, including dentists, should be trained in advocacy and public participation. 11 CWF initiatives are supported by many national and worldwide organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Public Health Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Health Organization. 4 While the U.S. population has been significantly impacted by CWF, dental caries remains prevalent.…”

Design of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) Study

“…(1) quality improvement language and methods; (2) methods of encouraging health behavior change, including motivational interviewing; (3) best practices in treating childhood obesity; and (4) Be Our VoiceÔ 37 Advocacy training, which engages and trains clinicians to be advocates of children in the fight against childhood obesity. Full-day live learning sessions were held every 6 months supplemented by monthly interactive webinars and individualized coaching.…”