Evaluating the Impact of Training in Obesity Prevention Methods on the Counseling, Knowledge, and Skills of WIC Nutritionists in Georgia, 2014-2015.
OBJECTIVES
Motivational interviewing, a client-centered intervention method focused on enhancing intrinsic motivation for behavior change, shows a positive impact on children's weight status (ie, stabilizing or slowing down weight gain as a child grows). We evaluated the impact of a training program on knowledge and adoption of evidence-based obesity prevention counseling strategies among counselors from Georgia's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).


METHODS
Between July 2014 and September 2015, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Strong4Life program provided 388 WIC counselors in Georgia with a 2-hour training session on motivational interviewing, patient-centered counseling, and goal setting for obesity prevention. We evaluated the training using (1) self-administered pre- and post-training surveys that assessed knowledge of counseling strategies, (2) post-training observation of counseling interactions, and (3) a review of behavior change goal quality pre- and post-training in a random sample of 200 WIC client charts.


RESULTS
In a comparison of pre-training knowledge with immediate post-training knowledge among 388 counselors, 81% vs 91% ( P < .001) knew that, to be effective, goals must be important to clients, and 66% vs 94% ( P < .001) knew the 5 A's (assess, advise, agree, assist, arrange) of counseling. Knowledge improvements were sustained at 3 months post-training. We observed no improvements in the quality of chart-documented behavior goals.


CONCLUSIONS
WIC nutrition counselors in Georgia were aware of evidence-based counseling strategies but did not consistently apply them. The training program was helpful, but time and additional support are needed to adopt new practices.
['Palmer|Wendy|W|', 'Henderson|Danielle|D|', 'Stahnke|Barbara|B|', 'Shary|Katherine|K|', 'Hardy|Trisha|T|', 'Welsh|Jean A|JA|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003376:Counseling D005260:Female D063105:Food Assistance D005845:Georgia D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006293:Health Promotion D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009042:Motivation D064686:Nutritionists D009765:Obesity D014481:United States
WIC motivational interviewing nutrition patient-centered counseling goal setting