A medical assistant-based program to promote healthy behaviors in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
Most primary care patients have at least 1 major behavioral risk: smoking, risky drinking, low physical activity, or unhealthy diet. We studied the effectiveness of a medical assistant-based program to identify and refer patients with risk behaviors to appropriate interventions.


METHODS
We undertook a randomized control trial in a practice-based research network. The trial included 864 adult patients from 6 primary care practices. Medical assistants screened patients for 4 risk behaviors and applied behavior-specific algorithms to link patients with interventions. Primary outcomes were improved risk behaviors on standardized assessments. Secondary outcomes included participation in a behavioral intervention and the program's effect on the medical assistants' workflow and job satisfaction.


RESULTS
Follow-up data were available for 55% of participants at a mean of 12 months. The medical assistant referral arm referred a greater proportion of patients than did usual care (67.4 vs 21.8%; P <.001) but did not achieve a higher success rate for improved behavioral outcomes (21.7 vs 16.9%; P=0.19). Qualitative interviews found both individual medical assistant and organizational effects on program adoption.


CONCLUSIONS
Engaging more primary care team members to address risk behaviors improved referral rates. More extensive medical assistant training, changes in practice culture, and sustained behavioral interventions will be necessary to improve risk behavior outcomes.
Ferrer
Robert L
RL
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. FerrerR@uthscsa.edu
Mody-Bailey
Priti
P
Jaén
Carlos Roberto
CR
Gott
Sherrie
S
Araujo
Sara
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking; D055815:Young Adult