Poster Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

Effectiveness of obesity management education for healthcare professionals: a rapid review with meta-analysis (129090)

Rebecca Wu 1 , Maria Agaliotis 1 , Samantha Hocking 2 3 4 , Srividya Adapa 1 , Evan Atlantis 1
  1. School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Boden Initiative, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Aims: This rapid review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of structured education in obesity management for healthcare professionals (HCPs) on practice competencies.

Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, ERIC, and Google Scholar. Effect sizes (ESs) were calculated, and a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2statistic and tested for statistical significance using the Q-statistic. Subgroup analyses explored sources of heterogeneity. Additionally, several quasi-experimental studies, not included in the meta-analysis, were descriptively synthesised.

Results: Our search yielded 1,683 records, from which 18 eligible studies, published between 2020 and 2025, were selected. These included four RCTs, one non-RCT, ten before-and-after studies, and three studies with both non-RCT and before-and-after designs. Pooled analysis of four RCTs and three non-RCTs revealed a statistically significant moderate positive overall effect (ES=0.413, 95% CI: 0.122 to 0.705, p=0.005), despite substantial heterogeneity (I2=69%, Q=16.66, p=0.01). Subgroup analysis showed a significant moderate positive effect for RCTs (ES=0.530, 95% CI: 0.104 to 0.956, p=0.015), while the non-RCT subgroup showed a smaller and non-significant effect (ES=0.253, 95% CI: -0.044 to 0.550, p=0.095). Interventions lasting 4 hours or more had a moderate and statistically significant positive effect (ES=0.685 95% CI: 0.304 to 1.066, p<0.001), whereas shorter interventions (under 4 hours) showed a small non-significant effect (ES=0.236, 95% CI: -0.079 to 0.552, p=0.141). Descriptively synthesised quasi-experimental studies supported these findings, revealing improvements in HCPs' knowledge, practice behaviours and skills, confidence, attitudes, in some cases, patient outcomes like weight loss.

Conclusion: Overall, structured education programmes effectively improve HCPs’ obesity management competencies. The positive impact is primarily driven by longer, more comprehensive interventions, and more robust studies. These findings highlight the importance of investing in substantial educational initiatives to enhance HCPs' skills in obesity care.