Satisfaction with primary care provider involvement is associated with greater weight loss: Results from the practice-based POWER trial

Objective: To evaluate the association between the patient-provider relationship, satisfaction with primary care provider's (PCP) involvement and weight loss in a practice-based weight loss trial. Methods: POWER was a practice-based randomized controlled behavioral weight loss trial. Participants completed questionnaires about patient-provider relationship and satisfaction with their PCPs' involvement in the trial. PCPs completed a demographics and practice survey. The main outcome was the mean weight change from baseline to 24 months. We created mixed-effect models, accounting for the random effects of patients clustering with the PCP and the repeated outcome assessments within patient over time, and adjusted for randomization assignment, age, gender, race and clinical site. Results: 347 (of 415) were included. Mean age was 54.8 years, mean BMI was 36.3kg/m². Participants reported high quality patient-provider relationships (mean summary score=29.1 [range 14-32]). Patient-provider relationship quality was not associated weight loss in either the intervention or control groups. Among intervention participants, higher ratings of the helpfulness of the PCPs' involvement was associated with greater weight loss (p=0.005). Conclusion: Patient-provider relationship quality was not associated with weight loss in a practice-based weight loss trial but rating PCPs as helpful in the intervention was associated with weight loss. Practice implications: Partnering with PCPs to deliver weight loss programs may promote greater participant satisfaction and weight loss.