Group Medical Visits 2.0: The Open Source Wellness Behavioral Pharmacy Model

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Medicine
• Health Equity

Background:

• The Open Source Wellness (OSW) model offers an affordable, accessible system for behavioral health interventions.
• It focuses on physical activity (MOVE), nutrition (NOURISH), social support (CONNECT), and stress reduction (BE).
• This study assesses the OSW model within a Group Medical Visit (GMV) format at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the OSW behavioral pharmacy model delivered via GMVs.
• To assess the impact of the OSW program on health behaviors and clinical outcomes in diverse patient populations.
• To explore the feasibility of integrating the OSW model into existing healthcare systems for improved health equity.

Main Methods:

• A 16-week intervention involving weekly 2-hour group sessions combining physical activity, mindfulness, health lessons, and coaching.
• Participants received plant-based meals and a $10 voucher for fresh produce.
• Data collected included weekly blood pressure and weight, monthly self-reported diet, exercise, mood, and electronic health record data on acute care utilization.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in daily fruit and vegetable intake (b=0.31, p<0.01) and exercise (b=11.50, p<0.01).
• Significant reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) (b=-0.10, p=0.05).
• Reductions in depression symptoms (b=-1.72, p<0.01) and systolic blood pressure (b=-4.04, p<0.01) were observed in relevant subgroups.

Conclusions:

• The OSW behavioral pharmacy model is effective when delivered in a GMV format within an FQHC.
• The program demonstrates potential for improving health behaviors and clinical outcomes, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions and social determinants of health challenges.
• The OSW model offers a scalable and adaptable approach to advance health equity within the broader healthcare ecosystem.