Role of PCP referral and weight loss in the Hopkins POWER trial

PURPOSE: Primary care providers (PCPs) play an important role in identifying and counseling obese patients to lose weight, but it is unknown whether PCP referral of patients into a weight loss intervention is associated with greater weight loss. The objectives are to determine if PCP referral is associated with greater 1) weight loss, 2) end of study patient–provider relationship quality, and 3) satisfaction and participation rates in the intervention. METHODS: 415 obese patients enrolled in the Hopkins POWER trial from six primary care practices in the Baltimore area. We conducted a secondary analysis of results from the trial using longitudinal mixed-effects model and generalized linear model, adjusting for clinic, sex, age, and race. The primary outcome was absolute weight change from baseline to 24 months. Secondary outcomes were patient–provider relationship quality and satisfaction and participation rates in the intervention. RESULTS: Participants in both PCP and non-PCP referral groups lost a similar amount of weight from baseline to 24 months. PCP referral was not significantly associated with percentage of completed coach contacts, web logins, and satisfaction with trial, but was associated with higher end of study patient–provider relationship quality (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our study represents the first of its kind to examine the role of PCP referral of patients into a weight loss trial. While we did not find evidence that PCP referral is associated with increased weight loss, further research is needed to determine how PCPs can use their relationship with patients to promote weight loss and enhance intervention effects.