Effect of a low-cost intervention on recording body mass index in patients' records.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effectiveness of body mass index (BMI) tables placed in exam rooms as an intervention to encourage providers to calculate and record BMI scores in patients' medical records.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort design, medical record data for 276 adult patients at a federally funded community health center in New England were examined from August 2000 to August 2002 following the intervention.


METHODS
Prominent, multicolored, laminated BMI tables were posted in the exam rooms of one of the study site's three primary health care teams. Medical record data collected included documentation of BMI calculation in medical records, documentation of an obesity diagnosis, and inclusion of heights and current weights. Frequency distributions were calculated; chi-square tests were used to identify associations.


RESULTS
In contrast to the comparison teams, patients on the intervention team were more likely to have BMI recorded in the medical record. A statistically significant increase in the diagnosis of obesity was observed throughout the health center after the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Posting BMI tables in exam rooms contributed to increased BMI documentation in patients' medical records.
Lemay
Celeste A
CA
Office of Community Programs, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 222 Maple Avenue/Chang Building, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA. celeste.lemay@umassmed.edu
Cashman
Suzanne B
SB
Savageau
Judith A
JA
Reidy
Patricia A
PA
D000328:Adult; D001296:Audiovisual Aids / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D009511:New England; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity