Living Well with Lifestyle Medicine: A group consultation approach to delivering Lifestyle Medicine Intervention in Primary Care

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionIncreasing prevalence of chronic disease is raising demands on the healthcare system, and evidence‐based cost‐effective ways to address these are needed. This project piloted a novel approach of delivering lifestyle medicine in general practice by providing a holistic lifestyle medicine programme to patients at high risk of chronic diseases.MethodsEleven patients at high risk of chronic disease participated in a 6‐week programme of General Practitioner (GP)‐led group consultations, which delivered evidence‐based lifestyle education and interventions across all the pillars of lifestyle medicine. Anthropometric data (including weight and body mass index (BMI)) and quality‐of‐life data (using the EuroQol‐5D (EQ‐5D‐5L) tool) and patient's confidence and motivation were assessed at the beginning and end of the programme to assess impact. Cost‐effectiveness was estimated by calculating the cost‐per‐quality‐adjusted‐life‐year (QALY) for the EQ‐5D‐5L data.ResultsSeventy‐three per cent of participants lost weight, with an average weight loss of 1.7 kg confidence interval (CI), –3.46 to –0.02 kg; P = 0.048), which resulted in an average BMI reduction of 0.56 (CI, –1.11 to –0.02; P = 0.043) over 6 weeks. Quality of Life scores show improvement, with EuroQol‐visual analogue scale (EQ‐VAS) score increase of 23 points (CI, +11.82 to +34.18; P = 0.002) and EQ‐5D‐5L scores show reduction in mobility problems, anxiety and depression and pain. Patient's self‐rated confidence and motivation to make healthy lifestyle changes improved significantly over the programme.ConclusionsDelivery of lifestyle medicine intervention via a GP‐led group consultation model results in improvement in patients’ perceived health and well‐being, along with reductions in weight, and reduced problems with mood and pain. Delivery of care in this way is cost‐effective. The positive findings from this pilot‐scale study support investment in a larger study to further develop and explore delivery of lifestyle medicine intervention in this way.