Protocol for the rural engagement in TelemedTeam for options in obesity treatment solutions (RE-TOOL): Cluster randomized trial investigating team-based telemedicine in rural primary care

Abstract

Rural communities experience disproportionately high rates of obesity and related chronic diseases. Rural residents report a lack of weight control programs within their communities, leaving primary care physicians (PCPs)at the center of obesity treatment. PCP involvement significantly enhances uptake and maintenance of weight loss behaviors, but PCPs face significant challenges in delivering consistent, high quality obesity treatment. Capitalizing on the rapid expansion of telehealth, this cluster-randomized trial will evaluate the effectiveness of a novel team-based treatment approach in reducing weight compared to standard quarterly PCP visits. Team Care is a telemedicine approach that pairs intensive telemedicine group visits with quarterly individual team-based clinic visits that simultaneously engage the participant, the local PCP, and a lifestyle coach. This combines the benefits of group-based treatment with home-based telemedicine delivery, and critically, integrates team-based care in local rural clinics. We hypothesize that the team-based approach will be more effective in achieving weight loss at 18 months. Sixteen practices from rural Kansas will be randomized to deliver the team-based approach or standard of care to 35 participants per practice (n = 560) age 20 to 75 with a BMI at least 30 kg/m2. Secondary endpoints include clinical cut points for weight loss, quality of life indicators, and implementation process measures. This research will advance knowledge of obesity treatment in rural primary care by directly comparing the effectiveness of an alternative model of care with the current standard of care. The results may warrant a new standard of care for obesity treatment in rural primary care practices.