Participating in an online quality improvement learning network helped rural physicians better adhere to clinical guidelines on childhood obesity prevention and resulted in improved community health, according to a study in the American Journal of Medical Quality.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis, tracked participation and results from the Healthy Eating Active Living TeleHealth Community of Practice, an online learning community focused on educating providers on best practices for combating childhood obesity. Through video conferencing and other methods, physicians from seven participating rural primary care clinics learned clinical and patient engagement strategies for controlling pediatric patients' weight.
After nine months, researchers noted both an increase in guideline adherence among physicians and an increase in their patients' nutrition and physical activity. The online network had the added effect of increasing communication between the physicians, fostering peer support and faciliating the exchange of experiences and advice.
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