Search

Current guidelines recommend behavioral intervention to achieve a modest weight loss (e.g., 3–5%) as a first-line obesity treatment. Online behavioral obesity treatment, delivered via the Rx Weight Loss (RxWL) program, produces clinically significant initial weight losses. However, the program's pragmatic utility in routine medical care has yet to be tested. Further, additional research is needed to determine how best to extend the RxWL program to facilitate weight loss maintenance. This paper summarizes methods for a pragmatic trial aimed at identifying optimal methods for implementation of RxWL in primary care and evaluating relative effectiveness of two approaches to weight loss maintenance. RxWL will be implemented in a network of approximately 60 primary care clinics. Implementation outcomes (program uptake and completion metrics) will be compared between a Basic Implementation Intervention consisting primarily of access to RxWL, and an Enhanced Implementation Intervention with additional training in strategies for motivating and supporting patients in their use of RxWL and online clinician support tools for tracking patient progress. Second, two intervention approaches (Monthly Lessons versus Refresher Courses) within the RxWL patient platform will be tested against an educational control condition, and effects on 1-year weight loss maintenance will be compared. This study will provide essential information about the feasibility and utility of online obesity treatment in primary care. It will provide novel information on two approaches to weight loss maintenance for patients in this setting. This project fills key gaps in evidence regarding best practices for obesity treatment in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Depression during pregnancy has been demonstrated to be predictive of low birthweight, prematurity, and postpartum depression. These adverse outcomes potentially have lasting effects on maternal and child well-being. Socio-economically disadvantaged women are twice as likely as middle-class women to meet diagnostic criteria for antenatal major depression (MDD), but have proven difficult to engage and retain in treatment. Collaborative care treatment models for depression have not been evaluated for racially/ethnically diverse, pregnant women on Medicaid receiving care in a public health system. This paper describes the design, methodology, culturally relevant enhancements, and implementation of a randomized controlled trial of depression care management compared to public health Maternity Support Services (MSS). Methods Pregnant, public health patients, > 18 years with a likely diagnosis of MDD or dysthymia, measured respectively by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) or the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), were randomized to the intervention or to public health MSS. The primary outcome was reduction in depression severity from baseline during pregnancy to 18-months post-baseline (one-year postpartum). Baseline results 168 women with likely MDD (96.4%) and/or dysthymia (24.4%) were randomized. Average age was 27.6 years and gestational age was 22.4 weeks; 58.3% racial/ethnic minority; 71.4% unmarried; 22% no high school degree/GED; 65.3% unemployed; 42.1% making < $10,000 annually; 80.4% having recurrent depression; 64.6% PTSD, and 72% unplanned pregnancy. Conclusions A collaborative care team, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, project manager, and 3 social workers, met weekly, collaborated with the patients' obstetrics providers, and monitored depression severity using an electronic tracking system. Potential sustainability of the intervention within a public health system requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Women have higher rates of depression and often experience depression symptoms during critical reproductive periods, including adolescence, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Collaborative care intervention models for mood disorders in patients receiving care in an OB-GYN clinic setting have not been evaluated. Study design and methodology for a randomized controlled trial of collaborative care depression management versus usual care in OB-GYN clinics and the details of the adapted collaborative care intervention and model implementation are described in this paper. Methods: Women over age 18years with clinically significant symptoms of depression, as measured by a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10 and a clinical diagnosis of major depression or dysthymia, were randomized to the study intervention or to usual care and were followed for 18months. The primary outcome assessed was change over time in the SCL-20 depression scale between baseline and 12months. Baseline Results: Two hundred five women were randomized: 57% white, 20% African American, 9% Asian or Pacific Islander, 7% Hispanic, and 6% Native American. Mean age was 39years. 4.6% were pregnant and 7.5% were within 12months postpartum. The majority were single (52%), and 95% had at least the equivalent of a high school diploma. Almost all patients met DSM IV criteria for major depression (99%) and approximately 33% met criteria for dysthymia. Conclusions: An OB-GYN collaborative care team, including a social worker, a psychiatrist, and an OB-GYN physician, who met weekly and used an electronic tracking system for patients was the essential element of the proposed depression care treatment model described here. Further study of models that improve quality of depression care that are adapted to the unique OB-GYN setting is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]