Societal focus on personal responsibility for obesity has been shown to contribute to negative attitudes about people with obesity among healthcare providers and internalized weight bias among patients. Consequences of weight stigma include social isolation, stress, negative health behaviors and less frequent medical care. An interprofessional approach is needed to address the complexity of obesity in a way that decreases stigma and promotes physical and emotional wellbeing. The Boston University Community Health Alliance of Medical Professionals (BU CHAMPs) is an education and practice-based interprofessional training program for nutrition, social work, physician assistant and medical trainees. BU CHAMPs operates weekly interprofessional care clinics in three community health centers that serve underserved populations with chronic diseases including obesity. Our interprofessional leadership team developed a workshop and standardized patient experience grounded in IPEC core competencies to prepare trainees to examine their own biases, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each discipline’s approach to treating patients with obesity, and develop a set of interprofessional communication skills and strategies (ICSSs) for unbiased weight-related conversations with patients. This initiative was fine-tuned over a 3-year period. During years 1 and 2, the workshop was facilitated by an academic faculty member. In year 1, trainees at each community health center worked with preceptors from all disciplines to develop the first set of ICSSs to guide them in standardized patient practice sessions and patient visits. Trainees in year 2 evaluated their confidence in applying the ICSSs before and after participation in the workshop and standardized patient practice sessions, and added to the list of ICSSs developed in year 1. Facilitation of the workshop was transferred to interprofessional community preceptors at each community health center in year 3. Presenters of this lightning talk will share the final list of ICSSs and discuss lessons learned in facilitating this initiative.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the OICPD is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The OICPD maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change
