%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I Gunther Eysenbach
%V 14
%N 1
%P e16
%T Primary Care Providers’ Perspectives on Online Weight-Loss Programs: A Big Wish List
%A Hwang,Kevin O
%A Stuckey,Heather L
%A Chen,Monica C
%A Kraschnewski,Jennifer L
%A Forjuoh,Samuel N
%A Poger,Jennifer M
%A McTigue,Kathleen M
%A Sciamanna,Christopher N
%+ Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6410 Fannin St, UPB 1100.41, Houston, TX, 77030, United States, 1 713 500 6441, kevin.o.hwang@uth.tmc.edu
%K Obesity
%K weight management
%K primary care
%D 2012
%7 19.01.2012
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Integrating online weight-loss programs into the primary care setting could yield substantial public health benefit. Little is known about primary care providers’ perspectives on online weight-loss programs. Objective: To assess primary care providers’ perspectives on online weight-loss programs. Methods: We conducted focus group discussions with providers in family medicine, internal medicine, and combined internal medicine/pediatrics in Texas and Pennsylvania, USA. Open-ended questions addressed their experience with and attitudes toward online weight-loss programs; useful characteristics of existing online weight-loss programs; barriers to referring patients to online weight-loss programs; and preferred characteristics of an ideal online weight-loss program. Transcripts were analyzed with the grounded theory approach to identify major themes. Results: A total of 44 primary care providers participated in 9 focus groups. The mean age was 45 (SD 9) years. Providers had limited experience with structured online weight-loss programs and were uncertain about their safety and efficacy. They thought motivated, younger patients would be more likely than others to respond to an online weight-loss program. According to primary care providers, an ideal online weight-loss program would provide—at no cost to the patient—a structured curriculum addressing motivation, psychological issues, and problem solving; tools for tracking diet, exercise, and weight loss; and peer support monitored by experts. Primary care providers were interested in receiving reports about patients from the online weight-loss programs, but were concerned about the time required to review and act on the reports. Conclusions: Primary care providers have high expectations for how online weight-loss programs should deliver services to patients and fit into the clinical workflow. Efforts to integrate online weight-loss programs into the primary care setting should address efficacy and safety of online weight-loss programs in clinic-based populations; acceptable methods of sending reports to primary care providers about their patients’ progress; and elimination or reduction of costs to patients. 
%M 22262726
%R 10.2196/jmir.1955
%U http://www.jmir.org/2012/1/e16/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1955
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22262726