Abstract

Obesity is a prevalent and undertreated chronic disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality, yet patient education and engagement in treatment remain limited in primary care. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief, theory-driven educational handout in improving patient knowledge, self-awareness, and readiness to engage in obesity-related care. The intervention was implemented in a Midwestern primary care clinic and targeted adult patients with a body mass index of 30 or greater. Participants were provided with an educational handout and completed pre- and post-handout tests assessing knowledge of obesity etiology, risks, and treatment options, as well as perceptions of treatment candidacy and willingness to discuss care with a provider. Twenty participants completed both assessments.

Results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in knowledge scores following the intervention, t (19) = 6.962, p < .001. Additionally, all participants correctly identified themselves as candidates for weight-loss treatment after the intervention, compared to a lower proportion at baseline. While the increase in willingness to discuss treatment with a provider was not statistically significant, it was clinically meaningful. These findings suggest that a low-cost, easily implemented educational tool can enhance health literacy and support patient engagement in shared decision-making. The intervention demonstrated feasibility within routine clinical workflows and holds potential for sustainability and scalability across similar healthcare settings. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and the impact on provider behavior and clinical utilization.

Author Details

Claire Maddux, DNP(c), BSN, RN. 12 years of nursing experience. Currently a graduate student at Nebraska Methodist College graduating with my DNP, FNP degree in July 2026.

Linda Hughes, PhD, MSN, BSN current nursing educator at Nebraska Methodist College.

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Patient Education, Educational Handout, Health Literacy, Obesity, Primary Care, Shared Decision Making, Health Belief Model

Advisor

Tara Whitmire

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Nebraska Methodist College

Degree Year

2026

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2026-07-15

Full Text of Presentation

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