Determining patient attendance, access to interventions and clinical outcomes in a publicly funded obesity programme: Results from the Canberra Obesity Management Service

Abstract

Multi-disciplinary specialist services have a crucial role in the management of patientswith obesity. As demand for these services increases, so too does the need to moni-tor individual service performance and compare outcomes across multiple sites. Thispaper reports on results from the publicly funded Canberra Obesity ManagementService. A descriptive observational study was conducted on new patients whoattended an initial medical review from July 2016 to June 2017. Baseline characteris-tics, comorbidities, attendance, service utilization and outcomes were collated untilJune 2018. Of the 162 patients identified, 64% continued to attend beyond initialmedical review. Dietetics was the most commonly accessed allied health service,followed by exercise physiology and psychology. Very low-energy diet was the mostcommonly trialled intensive intervention, followed by pharmacotherapy and bariatricsurgery. Mean baseline weight for those who continued beyond initial medical reviewwas 142.0 kg (SD 26.6 kg), with a mean weight change of−6.2 kg (SD 10.2 kg) and amean change in percentage body weight of−5% (SD 7%). Clinically significant weightloss was achieved in 36% of these patients, with a further 47% achieving weight sta-bilization. Mean Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale scores reduced from 8-6-8 to7-5-5, and mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores decreased from 8/24 to 6/24.Polysomnography referrals were made for 37% of all new patients, 87% of whomwere diagnosed with varying degrees of obstructive sleep apnoea. We present thesefindings in the hope that they may serve as an example for data collection, individualservice monitoring and comparison across multiple obesity services.