title: Patient perspectives on the integration of an intensive online behavioral weight loss intervention into primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine patients' perception of how a referral-based online lifestyle intervention contributed to primary care medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We invited 50 adults to complete a semi-structured interview after a 1-year online behavioral weight loss intervention (average weight change: -4.79 kg). We developed an iterative codebook using content analysis. Two coders independently coded all transcripts (kappa=0.895). We analyzed responses regarding the integration of the program with primary care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 35 participants who completed the interview, 46% described a positive experience between the program and their routine medical care; 14% noted it was fine/OK; 9% reported no effect, 3% were negative, 11% said that the program was unrelated to their medical care, and 14% that the only connection was the referral. Factors such as physician feedback and support, coordination with routine health care, and improved cardiovascular risk factors were cited in support of a positive experience. Physician feedback was reported by 89%, and 80% stated that the program helped them to follow their physician's advice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physician referral to online education and counseling may facilitate the integration of evidence-based behavioral counseling with primary care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internet technology may enable improved access to evidence-based counseling for chronic health problems.
authors: University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. kmm34@pitt.edu
authors: Kathleen M
authors: KM
authors: McTigue
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Bhargava
authors: Cindy L
authors: CL
authors: Bryce
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Conroy
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Fischer
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Hess
authors: Laurey R
authors: LR
authors: Simkin-Silverman
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Zickmund
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015431:Weight Loss