Implementation of guidelines

Key messages

  • Organisational interventions to promote evidence based obesity management ion PHC are cost effective
  • Barriers to referral of obese patients from primary health care include those related to provider and patient attitudes, practice organisation and the health system in which they are located

Research questions

  1. What is the cost effectiveness of a strategy to implement obesity guidelines in PHC
  2. How are referral options including surgical intervening implemented for obese patients in PHC 

Rationale

While obesity management guidelines have been developed by the NHMRC, barriers to the implementation of the guidelines exist. 

Current Projects

  1. Counterweight trials were conducted in Adelaide. The Counterweight Program is an evidence-based weight management program for use in general practice. We worked with the Counterweight UK team to adapt the program to an Australian setting. 
  2. GP referral study: Current NHMRC guidelines recommend intensive medical management or surgery for obese patients not responding to other interventions especially in the presence of co-morbidities.  A qualitative study was conducted to determine current access to these referral options in general practice.
  3. Health economic analysis: Data from the Preventive Evidence into Practice (PEP) study was linked to Medicare and PBS data to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of strategies to implement obesity management guidelines in general practice.

Contact

For more information please contact Professor Mark Harris, Director of COMPaRE-PHC and Stream 2 and 3 leader: m.f.harris@unsw.edu.