title: Health information technology in screening and treatment of child obesity: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States, yet screening and treatment are often inaccessible or ineffective. Health information technology (IT) may improve the quality, efficiency, and reach of chronic disease management. The objective of this study was to review the effect of health IT (electronic health records [EHRs], telemedicine, text message or telephone support) on patient outcomes and care processes in pediatric obesity management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Registry of Controlled Trials were searched from January 2006 to April 2012. Controlled trials, before-and-after studies, and cross-sectional studies were included if they used IT to deliver obesity screening or treatment to children aged 2 to 18 and reported impact on patient outcomes (BMI, dietary or physical activity behavior change) or care processes (BMI screening, comorbidity testing, diet, or physical activity counseling). Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed trial quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria. EHR use was associated with increased BMI screening rates in 5 of 8 studies. Telemedicine counseling was associated with changes in BMI percentile similar to that of in-person counseling and improved treatment access in 2 studies. Text message or telephone support was associated with weight loss maintenance in 1 of 3 studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, health IT interventions have improved access to obesity treatment and rates of screening. However, the impact on weight loss and other health outcomes remains understudied and inconsistent. More interactive and time-intensive interventions may enhance health IT's clinical effectiveness in chronic disease management.
authors: Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. anna_smith@hms.harvard.edu
authors: Anna Jo
authors: AJ
authors: Smith
authors: Áine
authors: Á
authors: Skow
authors: Joann
authors: J
authors: Bodurtha
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Kinra
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology