A Brief Outpatient Problem-solving Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating and Activity Habits in Adolescents

• Feasibility to conduct a brief problem-solving intervention in a busy academic outpatient setting. [ Time Frame: From recruitment of the first participant to completion of the intervention by the last participant, anticipated duration of time: 7-8 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Feasibility will be measured in the following ways:

  1. Refinement of the intervention by the end of the study to a reasonable length to compliment average patient clinic visits with a goal of 30 minutes or less
  2. Minimal disruption of clinic flow measured through clinic provider and staff satisfaction surveys and qualitative comments during the course of the intervention
  
  

• Change in problem-solving skills [ Time Frame: Change from baseline to 1-2 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Participants will complete survey questions modified from the Social Problem-Solving Inventory for Adolescents (SPSI-A) both pre-intervention and post-intervention. These questions provide an assessment of problem-solving skills and are scored on a Likert scale of 1-5 with 5=more positive/constructive problem-solving skills. Change in overall mean score from pre- to post- intervention will be compared within intervention and control groups and between groups. Duration of time between pre- and post- intervention will average 1-2 months.
  
  
• Change in confidence to maintain or improve healthy eating habits [ Time Frame: Change from baseline to 1-2 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Participants will complete pre- and post- intervention questions on confidence to maintain or improve healthy eating habits. An example question: "How confident are you that you could change or maintain your eating patterns to limit soda to <1 can/day." Questions will be scored on a Likert scale of 1-6 with 6=very confident. Change in overall mean score from pre- to post- intervention will be compared within intervention and control groups and between groups. Duration of time between pre- and post- intervention will average about 1-2 months.
  
  
• Sufficient recruitment and retention rates [ Time Frame: From recruitment of the first participant to completion of the intervention by the last participant, anticipated duration of time: 7-8 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Detailed records of patients approached, consented, randomized, and completing the study will be maintained. These records will be reviewed at the conclusion of the study to gauge patient interest in participating in a problem-solving intervention in the outpatient setting.
  
  

This study will refine, evaluate the feasibility, and estimate the effect of a brief problem-solving intervention to promote healthy eating and activity habits in adolescents. Intervention participants will receive 2 sessions of individual behavioral counseling on problem-solving skills utilizing educational videos, handouts, and worksheets. Intervention participants will be asked to generate unique health goals and practice utilizing problem-solving skills to achieve these goals.Control participants will receive standard of care. Outcomes will explore the ability to shorten the intervention, integrate the intervention into busy outpatient clinics, and estimate the effect of the intervention on confidence to maintain or improve healthy habits and to improve problem-solving skills.