Teaching doctors how to talk with patients about weight and related health
Official title: MRWeight: Medical Residents Learning Weight Management Counseling Skills -- A Multi-Modal, Technology-Assisted, Spaced Education Program
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11326276 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches medical residents to use short, spaced lessons and video practice over a year to improve how they talk with adult patients about weight, healthy habits, and conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $723,065 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134372-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326276 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with overweight or obesity, especially those at risk for or living with type 2 diabetes who receive care from primary care residents, are most likely to benefit.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, patients not seen in resident-run clinics, or those needing specialized interventions like bariatric surgery may not experience direct benefits from this training program.
What this research studies
If you see a resident doctor, this program trains those doctors to use the 5As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) and patient-centered counseling to address overweight and obesity. Training is delivered in short pieces spaced over 12 months, including two brief in-person teaching sessions and an email-based program called 3Ps (Prepare, Practice, Process) that uses video scenarios for practice. The program uses a Video-based Communication Assessment so residents can practice handling challenging cases and get feedback. Concepts are reinforced by follow-up emails so skills are refreshed and built over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make clinicians more comfortable and skilled at weight conversations, leading to better support for weight management and prevention of diabetes and heart disease for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies of spaced-education and brief communication training showed promise, but applying this specific resident-focused program to weight management is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sadasivam, Rajani — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Sadasivam, Rajani
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.