Evaluation of Patient Coach Support for Older Adults With Obesity

Evaluation of Patient Coach Support for Older Adults With Obesity

The purpose of the present pilot is to evaluate the outcomes of adding a patient coach to support the Optimal Health Weight and Lifestyle (OHWL) Clinic plan developed by PI Dewar, specifically to address barriers and facilitators of adherence to the plan. This will be accomplished via a coach who is not embedded in clinic care and is supported by pilot research funds. Evaluation of the coach activities, conducted by research personnel, will include compiling data from the electronic health record, a short set of patient report and performance measures, and qualitative interviews.

A patient coach added to the OHWL Clinic plan as part of the pilot will help patients who are being treated for weight loss to achieve their goals, help address barriers and facilitators of adherence to referred services such physical therapy and nutritionist appointments and various specialists and links to community services as needed. Evaluation of the coach activities will be conducted by research personnel, which will also include data compilation from the electronic health record, a short set of patient report and performance measures, and qualitative interviews. This project will provide pilot data for future funding proposals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 35
• Ability to walk across a room with or without an assistive device
• Willingness and ability to follow instructions
• Interest in weight management
• At least two of the following conditions: hypertension, cardiovascular conditions including heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active mental health disorder, such as major depression
• Moderate to severe cognitive impairment
• Mobility limited to bed-bound status