title: Collaborative practice improvement for childhood obesity in rural clinics: the Healthy Eating Active Living Telehealth Community of Practice (HEALTH COP).
abstract: This study assessed the impact of participation in a virtual quality improvement (QI) learning network on adherence to clinical guidelines for childhood obesity prevention in rural clinics. A total of 7 primary care clinics in rural California included in the Healthy Eating Active Living TeleHealth Community of Practice and 288 children seen in these clinics for well-child care participated in this prospective observational pre-post study. Clinics participated in a virtual QI learning network over 9 months to implement best practices and to exchange strategies for improvement. Following the intervention, documentation of weight assessment and counseling increased significantly. Children who received care from clinicians who led the implementation of the intervention at their clinic showed significant improvements in nutrition and physical activity. Virtual QI learning networks in geographically dispersed clinics can significantly increase clinicians' adherence to guidelines for childhood obesity and improve access to recommended care for rural and underserved children.
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA ushaikh@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Ulfat
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nettiksimmons
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: Jill G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: child; continuing; education; obesity; quality improvement; telemedicine