Translation of Obesity Practice Guidelines: Interprofessional Perspectives Regarding the Impact of Public Health Nurse System‐Level Intervention

Abstract

Objective The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of administrators and clinicians regarding a public health facilitated collaborative supporting the translation into practice of the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) Adult Obesity Guideline. Design and Sample This qualitative study was conducted with ten healthcare organizations participating in a voluntary, interprofessional obesity management collaborative. A purposive sample of 39 participants included two to three clinicians and an administrator from each organization. Interview analysis focused on how the intervention affected participants and their practices. Results Four themes described participant experiences of obesity guideline translation: 1) a shift from powerlessness to positive motivation, 2) heightened awareness coupled with improved capacity to respond, 3) personal ownership and use of creativity, and 4) a sense of the importance of increased interprofessional collaboration. Conclusions The investigation of interprofessional perspectives illuminates the feelings and perceptions of clinician and administrator participants regarding obesity practice guideline translation. These themes suggest that positive motivation, improved capacity, personal creative ownership, and interprofessional collaboration may be conducive to successful evidence-based obesity guideline implementation. Further research is needed to evaluate these findings relative to translating the ICSI obesity guideline and other guidelines into practice in diverse clinical settings.

What works and why in the identification and referral of adults with comorbid obesity in primary care: A realist review

“…Another important finding was about the importance of the interdisciplinary team, with each role having its own responsibilities upon which other members of the team rely . National and international bodies also assert the importance of interprofessional teams in weight management, and several of the included studies and related papers endorsed this view …”

“…29 National and international bodies also assert the importance of interprofessional teams in weight management, 63 and several of the included studies and related papers endorsed this view. 29,34,64 As for competing priorities, it was recognised that general practice is under pressure related to rising demands (ageing population with multimorbidity) and reduced workforce, 32 meaning that weight management may not be seen as a priority.…”

Impact of the Provider and Healthcare team Adherence to Treatment Guidelines (PHAT‐G) intervention on adherence to national obesity clinical practice guidelines in a primary care centre

“…National and international bodies call for the improved functioning of inter‐professional teams in health care [28]. The PHAT‐G intervention incorporated multiple health care disciplines and further supports the call for utilization of inter‐professional teams to implement the national guidelines for the care of patients with obesity [33].…”

“…National and international bodies call for the improved functioning of inter-professional teams in health care [28]. The PHAT-G intervention incorporated multiple health care disciplines and further supports the call for utilization of interprofessional teams to implement the national guidelines for the care of patients with obesity [33]. Creating a clinical culture that routinely includes a proactive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of obesity based upon current clinical guidelines will require significant leadership.…”

Using the TRANSLATE Framework to Support Practice Transformation: Perspectives of a Practice Facilitator

“…The foundational collaborative experience plus the on-site and predictable presence of the local public health PF empowered healthcare settings to continue to move forward in the midst of these challenges. One partner observed, “it’s easy to think you’re going to do something, but then work happens, and you kind of forget this stuff, but then because we’ve had [county-level public health nurse PF] coming, checking in with us, and reminding us of things, and reviewing previously set goals, and assisting us in setting future goals... it’s helped us stay on track, and it’s helped us continue to be mindful of the proces.” 3 Partners viewed the PF as a valuable asset and strategic colleague whose quality improvement expertise complemented the clinical expertise of the healthcare partners and served as a valuable catalyst for translation of clinical guidelines into practice.…”