| Popis: |
Background Prevention and management of obesity is integral to family medicine. Yet, physicians lack training and confidence to effectively address weight concerns with patients. Quality, evidence-based obesity management training for family medicine residents is needed to better support patients. We developed a comprehensive course based on the 5As of Obesity Management™, a framework and suite of resources to improve residents’ knowledge and confidence in obesity counselling. This study aimed to understand the course’s impact on residents’ attitudes, beliefs, and confidence with obesity counselling. Methods The course combines lectures with a bariatric suit experience, standardized and in-clinic patient practice, and narrative reflections. Using a multi-methods design we measured changes in 42 residents’ attitudes, beliefs, and self-confidence and thematically analyzed the narrative reflections to understand residents’ experience with the course content and pedagogy. Results Following the course, residents reported improved attitudes towards people living with obesity and improved confidence for obesity counselling. Experiential learning proved crucial in increasing residents’ ability to empathically engage with patients and to critically reflect on implications for their practice. Conclusion The 5AsT-MD course has the potential to increase residents’ confidence and competency in obesity prevention and management. Findings reflect the utility of the 5As to improve residents’ confidence and competency in obesity management counselling. |
