Visual prompt poster for promoting patient-physician conversations on weight loss.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect of a simple visual prompt in the form of a poster on the occurrence of patient-physician weight loss conversations during routine office encounters in a primary care outpatient clinic.


METHODS
We conducted a 2-phase study in a family medicine residency program outpatient clinic in August and September 2006. During the first phase, lasting 5 days, we surveyed all nonpregnant adult patients (preintervention group) about weight loss. We then implemented a visual prompt in the form of a colorful poster (11 x 17 inches) in both English and Spanish. The poster read "Do you want to lose weight? Ask your doctor today!" and included a picture of a bathroom scale. During the second phase, also lasting 5 days, we again surveyed all nonpregnant adult patients (postintervention group).


RESULTS
Analyses were based on 283 patients in the preintervention group and 386 patients in the postintervention group. The mean body mass index, obtained from medical records, did not differ significantly between groups (31 vs 32 kg/m2, respectively). Fully 60% of patients in the postintervention group recalled seeing the poster during their visit; however, the percentage of patients who reported discussing weight loss with their physician did not differ between the preintervention and postintervention groups overall (29% vs 27%), among the two-thirds of patients who wanted to lose weight (26% vs 23%), or when only postintervention patients who saw the poster were included in the comparison (29% vs 29%). The large majority of patients in both groups who had such discussions--82% and 77%--indicated that they found them useful; the difference between groups was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple visual prompt in the form of a poster directed at patients did not increase the occurrence of conversations between patients and their physicians about weight loss.
Stephens
Gillian S
GS
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. gstephe1@slu.edu
Blanken
Stephanie E
SE
Greiner
K Allen
KA
Chumley
Heidi S
HS
D000328:Adult; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009819:Office Visits; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015431:Weight Loss