Six to Success: Improving Primary Care Management of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity

Introduction: Despite the existence of established guidelines addressing pediatric obesity, many primary care providers fail to successfully implement recommendations. This study measured the impact of Six to Success, a weight management program based on the Chronic Care Model, on primary care provider adherence to pediatric weight management guidelines. Method: We used comprehensive pre- and postimplementation chart audits (N = 396) to conduct a quality improvement study at a hospital-based pediatric outpatient clinic. Charts of patients with a body mass index percentile at or above the 85th percentile (preimplementation, n = 90; postimplementation, n = 97) were audited for 23 identification, assessment, and prevention measures recommended in the care of the pediatric overweight/obese patient. Results: Statistically significant improvements to clinical guideline adherence were found in the following areas: correct diagnosis, physical examination, lifestyle assessment, use of motivational interviewing, and prevention strategies. Discussion: These findings suggest that Six to Success can be an effective method of improving primary care provider adherence to established pediatric weight management guidelines.