The purpose of the present pilot is to evaluate the outcomes of adding a patient coach to support the Optimal Health Weight and Lifestyle (OHWL) Clinic plan developed by PI Dewar, specifically to address barriers and facilitators of adherence to the plan. This will be accomplished via a coach who is not embedded in clinic care and is supported by pilot research funds. Evaluation of the coach activities, conducted by research personnel, will include compiling data from the electronic health record, a short set of patient report and performance measures, and qualitative interviews.
A patient coach added to the OHWL Clinic plan as part of the pilot will help patients who are being treated for weight loss to achieve their goals, help address barriers and facilitators of adherence to referred services such physical therapy and nutritionist appointments and various specialists and links to community services as needed. Evaluation of the coach activities will be conducted by research personnel, which will also include data compilation from the electronic health record, a short set of patient report and performance measures, and qualitative interviews. This project will provide pilot data for future funding proposals.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
19
Following a directed history and physical at the initial visit, the OHWL Care provider (OCP) develops a medical and weight management plan, which includes laboratory testing (such as for Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), consultant referrals (e.g. sleep, heart failure clinics) and referral to nutritionists and physical therapy (PT). The OCP begins the process of establishing patient goals, which will be followed up by the coach. The OCP reviews patient progress with the goals during face-to-face visits (some by telehealth) at two, four and six months. As part of the standard initial clinic evaluation, a medical assistant evaluates grip strength (using a hand dynamometer) the timed up and go mobility test; these are repeated at the 6-month visit.
A patient coach follows patients outside of clinic to ensure adherence with referral appointments and use of recommended community services. The coach assesses the participant at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale and follows up with patients via phone over 6 months. The coach utilizes S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to facilitate, for example, transportation, barriers to scheduling, etc. The coach follows up on specialist referral recommendations, physical therapy, and nutrition program, as well as social work recommendations. Barriers and facilitators to program adherence are identified and addressed.
University of Michigan - East Ann Arbor Geriatrics Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Percentage of participants who attend physical therapy appointments
Patients who reported attending at least one physical therapy appointment during the course of the study, if referred.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of participants who achieve treatment goals
Percentage of participants whose coaches reported successful achievement of established goals for diet and physical therapy based on end of study interview.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of participants who attend nutritional consultation appointments
Patients who reported attending at least one nutritional consultation appointment during the course of the study.
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of participants who access community resources
Patients who reported using a community resource (such as a gym, community park, or other similar resource) at least once during the course of the study.
Time frame: 6 months
Change in PROMIS-29 Score (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System)
PROMIS 29 questionnaire gauges health-related quality of life across seven key domains: physical function, pain interference, fatigue, sleep disturbance, physical and mental health, and social health. Each item is auto-scored and T-score is obtained for each domain and will be tracked during the study time frame Scores range from 0 to 100, where a score of 0 indicates lowest quality of life and 100 indicates highest quality of life.
Time frame: 6 months
Change in reported participant pain levels
This is assessed by PROMIS-Global Pain instrument which is a survey administered to patient by Computer adaptive testing, Scale 0-10 (where 0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain imaginable) and will track change during study period
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Time frame: 6 months
Change in NHATS (National health and aging trends study) Score
NHATS instrument scores individual's self-report of difficulty or dependency with performing activities of daily living such as self-care and mobility and restrictions in instrumental activities of daily living domains. Each domain has multiple questions with responses such as (Yes/No) for most; (None, little, some, Lot); (Always did it by self, together with someone else, someone always did it, it varied, not done in the last month); (everyday, most days, some days, rarely, never); (every time, most times, sometimes, rarely).
Time frame: 6 months
Change in patient mobility
Mobility and balance is measured during clinic visits using TUG (Timed up and go). The patient is asked to rise from a seated position, walk 3 m, turn around, and return and sit in the starting point chair while timed. Patients who fail to complete the test in fewer than 12 s are considered to have elevated fall risk Measurements will be taken every six months.
Time frame: 6 months, 12 months
Change in Life Space Assessment Score
Life-space mobility is a measure of resilience to physical decline and social isolation in older adults. They are nine 'yes/no' questions regarding a person's movements across nine life-space zones in the preceding 3 days. The total score ranges from 0 to 9, where 0 means most restricted life-space and 9 is least restricted life-space.
Time frame: 6 months