Description/Overview: The prevalence of obese children has tripled over the past four decades along with an increase in obesity-related illnesses. National experts have developed family-centered, culturally sensitive, guidelines for obesity prevention that include enhanced identification of overweight and obese children by calculating and plotting a BMI, conducting an assessment of cardiovascular risk factors at well child visits, and counseling families using motivational interviewing on behavior change to promote healthier weights in children. Past research, however, suggests that publication of guidelines rarely changes practice. Translation of science into practice requires innovative approaches to: 1) training providers on the current recommendations for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, 2) using technology for clinical decision support and tailored patient education materials, 3) conducting multi-site clinical trials, and 4) analyzing data nested by state, by provider, and by practice type. A comparative effectiveness, randomized clinical trial using innovative web-based training with and without computer decision support that provides tailored patient education is being conducted in 24 school-based health centers across 6 states in the United States. The purpose of this symposium is to describe the innovative approaches to developing web-based intervention, use of technology for clinical decision support and tailored patient education materials, navigating 24 internal review boards to conduct a multi-site trial, and research design, methods and analysis to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

Learner Objective #1: Describe the application of technology to translation of evidence-based obesity guidelines into practice in 24 sites across the United States.

Learner Objective #2: Apply lessons learned in the process of recruiting, obtaining IRB approval, and retaining 24 research sites in 6 states.