Table 1.

Summary of Methodology and Approach

Objectives	Indicators or variables	Sources
1. Develop and implement a preceptorship-based CME for FMG teams	a. Perceived pitfalls to implementation of the program	• Focus groups
2. Set up aa a collaborative intra/inter-regional interdisciplinary network
3. Evaluate implementation of this integrated obesity care system:
3a) ability of preceptorship structure to train 8 FMG teams during the research program	a. Proportion of candidates who agree to participate b. Proportion who participates in the preceptorship c. Resources needed for each preceptorship	• Data from the regional health agency • Administrative data from the project team • Budget and administrative data from the project team
3b) accessibility and utilization of the website and virtual community following preceptorships for FMG team members	a. Number of times participants access the website b. Length of time spent and the number of times individual tools are accessed c. Perceived utility of the tools in general d. Most helpful tools e. Obstacles and facilitating factors in using the website f. Resources needed to maintain the website g. Team members participation to the virtual community h. Degree to which the virtual community meets physicians' needs i. Resources needed to support the virtual community j. Degree to which participants perceived they achieve optimal obesity care delivery k. Perceived utility of each tools to optimal care delivery	• Web logging tools • Web-based questionnaires • Telephone and person-to-person structured interviews • Clinical vignettes and web-based learning tools • Web-based anonymous partial patient records • Budget and administrative data from the project team • Secondary care professionals' logbooks
3c) satisfaction of FMG team members and secondary care professionals	a. Participants expectations b. Participants satisfaction with the preceptorship c. Participants satisfaction with the website d. Participants satisfaction with the virtual community e. Suggested improvements by participants f. Secondary care team members satisfaction with preceptorship, web-site and virtual community g. Secondary care team members ease with this method of sharing expertise and patient care h. Suggested improvements by secondary care team members	• Traditional and web-based questionnaires • Telephone and person-to-person structured interviews • Focus groups with selected participants • Telephone and person-to-person structured interviews of secondary care team members • Focus groups with selected secondary care team members
4. Assess the impact of the preceptorships and network system on obesity primary care delivery, related to participating FMG team members:	Number of patients managed in the network	Web-based participants log-book
4a) knowledge and expertise	a. Score on test b. PCPs care practices c. Descriptive information on delivered care	• Pre-test and post-tests • Traditional and web-based questionnaires • Web-based anonymous partial patient records
4b) attitudes toward patients and treatment effectiveness	a. Score on test b. Qualitative assessment of attitudes	• Pre-test and post-tests • Traditional and web-based questionnaires • Focus groups
4c) perception of self-efficacy	Qualitative assessment of perception	• Traditional and web-based questionnaires • Focus groups
5. Deliver generalizable and transferable knowledge on
5a) the potential pitfalls and strategies of setting up preceptorships/website/virtual community network	Obstacles and facilitating factors in implementing the program	• Focus groups with participants, secondary care team members & decision-makers
5b) appropriate performance indicator sets assessing obesity care accessibility and delivery	Performance indicators