title: Are Graduating Pediatric Residents Prepared to Engage in Obesity Prevention and Treatment?
abstract: Little information is available to gauge residents' perceived receipt of comprehensive training and preparedness to manage children with obesity in practice.
  
  
  
  A national, random sample of 1000 graduating pediatric residents were surveyed in 2013 on childhood overweight/obesity and preparedness to prevent and treat obesity. A composite training measure was created by summing the number of areas (10 possible) where training on overweight/obesity was received. Multivariable logistic regression explored relationships of resident and training characteristics to residents' belief that their own counseling on prevention and treatment of overweight/obesity is very effective (vs somewhat/slightly/not effective).
  
  
  
  Of 625 survey respondents (63% response), most (68-92%) reported receipt of training in each of 10 assessed areas on overweight/obesity prevention, assessment, and treatment. Most residents did not desire more training in the assessed areas; however, 54% wanted more training in motivational interviewing. About one-fourth believed that their own counseling on the prevention of overweight/obesity (26%) and treatment of obesity (22%) was very effective. Residents who rated their ability to use motivational interviewing as very good/excellent were more likely to rate their counseling on both the prevention and treatment of overweight/obesity as very effective (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.63-7.13; and aOR 4.69, 95% CI 2.72-8.07, respectively). Residents who received training in all 10 assessed areas were also more likely to rate their counseling on both prevention and treatment as very effective (aOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.61-4.14; aOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.46-3.97, respectively).
  
  
  
  Comprehensive training on overweight/obesity and inclusion of training in motivational interviewing may help residents feel better prepared to care for children with overweight/obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill. Electronic address: mfrintner@aap.org.
authors.forename: Mary Pat
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Frintner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
authors.forename: Janice L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liebhart
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindros
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
authors.forename: Sandra G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hassink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: motivational interviewing; obesity; pediatric residents; training