Building a Healthier Polk 3 Year Summary | Page 20

INTRODUCTION
The Primary Care Physicians Strategy workgroup assessed primary care
physicians clinical practices in addressing body mass index (BMI) of their
patients. Primary care was defined as family medicine, internal medicine,
pediatrics, gynecology, and general practice physicians.

YEAR ONE

YEAR TWO

METHOD

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•

Interviews were conducted

The following questions were asked. Responses

including physicians and

subsequent Strategy 3 Workgroup meetings.

A survey was sent to 353
primary care physicians, of
which 99 responded (28%
response rate). Of those who

ARNPs, to assess providers’

responded 95 (96%) were

challenges addressing obesity,

documenting BMIs on their

perceptions of their patients’

patients and 86 (87%) were
providing counseling, education

or obese patients. While
documentation and counseling
rates within the survey
respondents were high, the
Strategy members felt that
additional information from
primary care providers was
needed to define obstacles
to patients achieving a
healthy weight.

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•

were recorded and compiled and analyzed at
1. What challenges are you facing addressing
obesity?

attitudes towards weight

2. How have patients attitudes towards weight

obesity has on patient care.

3. How has patient care been impacted by the

discussions, and the impact

or referral regarding weight
reduction for overweight

with 28 primary care providers,

Members conducted interviews
with 28 primary care providers,
including physicians and
ARNPs, to assess providers’
opinions about their practice
experiences and perceptions
of patients’ challenges with
obesity.

discussion changed over the years?
crisis of obesity?