title: Treating pediatric obesity in the primary care setting to prevent chronic disease: perceptions and knowledge of providers and staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The national and international epidemic of chronic disease, including among children, is largely fueled by increasing obesity. It is recommended that primary care play a key role in the treatment of pediatric obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A written survey was administered to providers and staff at 13 primary care practices across North Carolina, assessing perceptions on multiple dimensions of pediatric obesity treatment and knowledge of dietitian services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate for the survey was 66.9% (n = 273). Although providers reported feeling comfortable and confident in many areas of childhood obesity, perceived effectiveness was low. Moreover, comfort and confidence were lower for non-primary care providers (PCPs) involved in obesity treatment than for PCPs, and PCP comfort and confidence levels were low for the ability to conduct motivational interviewing and for knowledge of billing for obesity as a diagnosis. Personnel perceived that there were benefits to having a registered dietitian (RD) in their practice and generally understood RD capacity. Survey results provided no evidence that integration of an RD into the practice changed perceptions or knowledge over the course of 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study included only 13 practices, mostly rural and all of at least moderate size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant change is required if primary care practices are to play the role envisioned for them in stemming childhood obesity and chronic disease. Change will require identifying and addressing specific knowledge and skill gaps, such as those identified in this study. Respondents' positive perceptions of the benefits of RD integration suggest the importance of exploring this clinical model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA. mina.silberberg@duke.edu
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silberberg
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carter-Edwards
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolasa
authors.forename: Eliana M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Nidu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D009657:North Carolina; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*