Increasing patient attendance in a pediatric obesity clinic: a quality improvement project

Betty Geer; Renee M Porter; Matthew Haemer; Marilyn J Krajicek

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2014.09.001

Increasing patient attendance in a pediatric obesity clinic: a quality improvement project

J Pediatr Nurs. 2014 Nov-Dec;29(6):528-35. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2014.09.001. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Authors

Betty Geer¹, Renee M Porter², Matthew Haemer², Marilyn J Krajicek³

Affiliations

¹ University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, College of Nursing, Aurora, CO. Electronic address: betty.e.geer@ucdenver.edu.
² University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nutrition, Aurora, CO.
³ University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, College of Nursing, Aurora, CO.

PMID: 25251646
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2014.09.001

Abstract

Research supports intensive lifestyle interventions (>25 contact hours/six months) to treat childhood obesity. Success requires retention in program. This quality improvement project's purpose was to increase attendance of follow-up patients in a childhood obesity clinic by 10%. A pretest posttest design was used. Three months of baseline data were collected, followed by 52 weeks of intervention data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. Follow-up patient attendance improved significantly from 69% to 81% (z=1.76, p=.039 (95% CI=0.2822, 1.0021)). Simple and inexpensive interventions can significantly increase attendance of obese children in follow-up.

Keywords: Childhood obesity; Follow-up; Improve attendance.

MeSH terms

Appointments and Schedules*
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
Pediatric Obesity / prevention & control*
Quality Improvement*