The objective of this proposed K23 award is to prepare Dr. Megan McVay for a career as an independent scientist studying patient-oriented approaches to increase engagement in evidence-based weight management treatment among adults with obesity. To this end, Dr. McVay will obtain training in the areas of qualitative research methods, digital health intervention research, and the conduct of pragmatic clinical trials in primary care settings. The candidate and her mentors have developed a five- year plan to obtain training in these areas that includes coursework, workshops, and attendance at national conferences. Dr. McVay will work closely with her primary mentor, Corrine Voils, PhD, and her co-mentors, Gary Bennett, PhD, and William Yancy, MD, who jointly have nationally and internationally recognized expertise in behavioral weight loss treatment, qualitative research, intervention development, primary care-based clinical trials, and digital health interventions. The proposed research and training will be conducted in the resource-rich environment of Duke University Medical Center. The currently proposed research addresses the problem of poor uptake of evidence-based behavioral weight loss treatment through the development and testing of an intervention delivered via the primary care setting. Specifically, a web-based intervention that is completed by patients remotely, prior to a clinical visit is proposed. The intervention content will be individually tailored and will target determinants of treatment initiation based on our conceptual model, which draws extensively on the Health Belief Model. The delivery of the intervention remotely may allow more patients to receive evidence-based weight counseling while minimizing additional demands on clinic time and space. The first step of intervention development is to better characterize Health Belief Model constructs as they relate to weight loss treatment initiation in a primary care population, which will be accomplished through focus groups (Aim 1). Next, data from Aim 1 will be used to develop intervention content and the intervention website (Sub-aim 2.a.). This preliminary version of the intervention will be refined through usability testing and post-intervention qualitative interviews with patients (Sub-aim 2.b.) and through qualitative interviews with primary care providers (Sub-aim 2c). Finally, a pilot, pragmatic cluster randomized trial will be conducted in primary care clinics to determine intervention acceptability and the feasibility of proposed study protocol (Aim 3). At the end of the award tenure, the applicant will be prepared to submit an NIH R01 to conduct an adequately powered, pragmatic clinical trial to test the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing treatment initiation and weight loss.

Public Health Relevance

Over one-third of adults are obese, and most are not receiving evidence-based weight loss treatment. This research will produce a primary care-based intervention to increase the number of patients who enter evidence-based behavioral weight loss treatment. In so doing, the burden of obesity and its consequences could be reduced.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
7K23HL127334-04
Application #
9628576
Study Section
NHLBI Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Review Committee (MPOR)
Program Officer
Pratt, Charlotte
Project Start
2015-04-07
Project End
2020-03-31
Budget Start
2018-02-09
Budget End
2018-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Sch Allied Health Professions
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Taylor, Shannon S; Olsen, Maren K; McVay, Megan A et al. (2018) The role of group cohesion in a group-based behavioral weight loss intervention. J Behav Med :
Voils, Corrine I; Levine, Erica; Gierisch, Jennifer M et al. (2018) Study protocol for Log2Lose: A feasibility randomized controlled trial to evaluate financial incentives for dietary self-monitoring and interim weight loss in adults with obesity. Contemp Clin Trials 65:116-122
Friedman, Kelli E; Applegate, Katherine; Portenier, Dana et al. (2017) Bariatric surgery in patients with bipolar spectrum disorders: Selection factors, postoperative visit attendance, and weight outcomes. Surg Obes Relat Dis 13:643-651
McVay, Megan A; Yancy Jr, William S; Scott, Christine N et al. (2017) Patient factors associated with initiation of behavioral weight loss treatment: a prospective observational study in an integrated care setting. Transl Behav Med 7:75-83
Voils, Corrine I; Olsen, Maren K; Gierisch, Jennifer M et al. (2017) Maintenance of Weight Loss After Initiation of Nutrition Training: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med 166:463-471
Funk, Luke M; Jolles, Sally A; Greenberg, Caprice C et al. (2016) Primary care physician decision making regarding severe obesity treatment and bariatric surgery: a qualitative study. Surg Obes Relat Dis 12:893-901
McVay, Megan A; Steinberg, Dori M; Askew, Sandy et al. (2016) Genetic causal attributions for weight status and weight loss during a behavioral weight gain prevention intervention. Genet Med 18:476-82
McVay, Megan A; Voils, Corrine I; Geiselman, Paula J et al. (2016) Food preferences and weight change during low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets. Appetite 103:336-343
Voils, C I; Grubber, J M; McVay, M A et al. (2016) Recruitment and Retention for a Weight Loss Maintenance Trial Involving Weight Loss Prior to Randomization. Obes Sci Pract 2:355-365
Copeland, Amy L; Spears, Claire A; Baillie, Lauren E et al. (2016) Fear of fatness and drive for thinness in predicting smoking status in college women. Addict Behav 54:1-6

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