Date of Degree

12-2018

Document Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Program

Nursing

Advisor

Diana Beckmann-Mendez

Advisor

Ralph Grinnell

Abstract

Background Over 36% of Americans are obese. It is estimated that, by year 2030, 51% of the population will be obese. With the increased prevalence of co-morbidities associated with obesity, it is important to gain control of this disease. Method The aim of this project is to implement the 2013 American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and The Obesity Society Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults in order to identify those patients who require treatment for obesity and provide them with appropriate resources. The primary interventions are to provide color-coded cards to help identify patients with obesity, provide a behavior-monitoring calendar to patients with obesity, and provide referrals to appropriate patients. The number of referrals made and the documentation of obesity treatment were monitored during weekly chart reviews to evaluate effectiveness. Results Throughout the implementation period, all three healthcare providers in the clinic increased the frequency of documentation of obesity interventions and a total of three referrals were made. This demonstrates the implementation of the obesity guidelines was appropriate and increased the healthcare providers’ awareness of obese patients and their unique healthcare needs. Implications for Practice Due to obesity being such an ubiquitous disease, it is imperative that primary care clinics develop a strategy to combat this chronic illness. The onus falls on the primary care providers to educate patients, manage and treat the disease, and evaluate effectiveness, making it essential that all clinics have a strategy to identify obesity and an approach to treat it.

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Beard-SOR.pdf (1287 kB)
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