Veterans Health Administration's MOVE! Weight Management Program: Primary Care Clinicians' Perceptions of Program...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Obesity Intervention
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• The Veterans Health Administration's MOVE! Program is a large, healthcare-delivered weight loss intervention.
• Clinician perceptions and knowledge of health programs can influence intervention implementation.
• Understanding these perceptions is crucial for program improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate primary care clinician perceptions of the MOVE! weight loss program.
• To identify factors associated with perceived program effectiveness.
• To assess clinician knowledge of program specifics.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 754 primary care clinicians (50% nurses) within the Veterans Health Administration.
• Participants rated the perceived effectiveness of the MOVE! program based on various delivery aspects.
• Statistical analyses examined associations between group size, format, and perceived effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Perceived effectiveness was highest for group sizes of 11-25 members and for a combined lecture/support format.
• MOVE! program staff reported higher effectiveness ratings than other clinicians.
• Clinicians not directly involved with MOVE! delivery demonstrated less knowledge about the program and rated it as less effective.

Conclusions:

• Group size and format significantly influence clinician perceptions of the MOVE! program's effectiveness.
• Lack of knowledge among non-involved clinicians may lead to underestimation of program effectiveness and impact referral rates.
• Targeted education and communication can enhance clinician understanding and support for weight management interventions.