Padwal R, Klarenbach S, et al, 2018

28249576

The evaluating self-management and educational support in severely obese patients awaiting multidisciplinary bariatric care (EVOLUTION) trial: principal results.

Padwal R, Klarenbach S, Sharma A, Fradette M, Jelinski S, Edwards A, Majumdar S

BMC Medicine

2017

15

1

46

Randomized Controlled Trial

High risk

We enrolled patients with BMI levels >/= 35 kg/m who were newly wait-listed for adult (age >18 years) bariatric specialty care at the Edmonton or Red Deer clinic.

Patients with one or more of the following characteristics were excluded: (1) completed more than four weight Wise Community Modules (web-based or group session) in previous 3 months, (2) pregnant, (3) unable to read/write/comprehend English, (4) unable to access the web, (5) unable or unwilling to attend in-person sessions, (6) uncontrolled severe personality disorder, active psychosis, active substance dependence and/or major cognitive impairment, (7) deemed unsuitable by the study investigators, (8) participated in concurrent trial-related to obesity management, (9) resided more than1 hour driving time away from Weight Wise clinic or(10) declined to participate.

Therefore, we performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the benefits and costs of both the in-person and web-based programs compared to a printed educational materials control group. Thus, the primary rationale for this trial was to verify that scarce medical resources were being optimally allocated and, in addition, to determine the most efficient method of delivering self-management support.

Although clinic staff could not be blinded to allocation status, all outcome assessments were performed by research assistants working independently from regular clinic staff.

Edmonton and Red Deer (Northern and Central Alberta, Canada respectively).

Government

Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR)grant and Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions grant.