Practice Patterns and Perspectives of the Off-Label Use of GLP-1 Agonists for Cosmetic Weight Loss.

BACKGROUND: The off-label use of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists for cosmetic weight loss has captured the interest of the public. However, there is a paucity of published data on their utilization, implications, and management, particularly in the plastic surgery community. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the current practice patterns of aesthetic plastic surgeons regarding the off-label implementation of GLP-1 agonists. METHODS: A 35-question survey was sent to the 2600 members of The Aesthetic Society in July 2023. The survey collected physician demographics, practice settings, patient population demographics, and the use and management of GLP-1 agonists in their practice. No identifying variables were collected; all responses were anonymous. RESULTS: A total of 368 respondents were included. A quarter of respondents (25.3%) prescribed or utilized GLP-1 agonists in their practice. Nearly a third (29.9%) reported personal use of the medication, of which 71 (70.3%) indicated it was for cosmetic weight loss. Many aspects of the current treatment, counseling, and follow-up practices were similar among prescribing plastic surgeons. However, there were discrepancies in screening, nutrition counseling, and perioperative management. The majority believed that GLP-1 agonists were effective for weight loss (68.9%), profitable for business (57.8%), and would recommend its implementation to other plastic surgeons (68.5%). CONCLUSIONS: As leaders in the aesthetic field, it behooves plastic surgeons to take charge of shaping public opinion surrounding the growing off-label use of GLP-1 agonists for cosmetic weight loss. Plastic surgeons' leadership is imperative in establishing safe and ethical guidelines and protocols for proper screening, management, and patient care.

Public Interest in the Off-Label Use of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Agonists (Ozempic) for Cosmetic Weight Loss: A Google Trends Analysis.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists are a drug class used for the treatment of diabetes that have recently gained FDA approval for medical management of obesity. The off-label use of Ozempic (Novo Nordisk, Bagsværd, Denmark), the brand name of the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide, for cosmetic weight loss has been popularized by social media and celebrity influence. The aim of this study was to analyze with Google Trends (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, CA) the recent search popularity of Ozempic and related GLP-1 agonists. The term "Ozempic" was analyzed with Google Trends. Search popularity was assessed in terms of relative search volume (RSV) over a 5-year period. Changes in RSV were further compared with other GLP-1 agonists, "Wegovy" (Novo NordisK) and "Mounjaro" (Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN). Between March 2018 and February 2023, overall RSV in "Ozempic" grew exponentially in the United States. Simple linear regression analysis showed significantly increased RSV over time with an R2 of 0.915 and a regression coefficient of 0.957 (P < .001). When comparing "Ozempic," "Wegovy," and "Mounjaro" since June 2021 (FDA approval of Wegovy), Ozempic remained at the greatest RSV. One-way analysis of variance found statistically significant differences between the 3 search terms at all time points between December 2021 and February 2023 (P < .001). This study demonstrates a significant and growing public interest in Ozempic and related GLP-1 agonists. As the use of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss becomes more prevalent, plastic surgeons, particularly in the aesthetic setting, must be prepared for the downstream implications. Increased awareness, understanding, and further scientific studies led by plastic surgeons will help deliver the safest possible patient outcomes.

Clinical and professional role development among experienced pediatric nurses: the pediatric medical nursing certificate program.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE: The development of a multiunit-based certificate program to promote retention by increasing experienced pediatric nurses' knowledge, skills, and professional role development through a blend of didactic, clinical, and mentoring components. CONCLUSIONS: The certificate group demonstrated an increase in knowledge and skill, advanced leadership role acquisition, promotion, certification, and graduate school matriculation, and achieved a 95% retention rate within the organization. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: With support from management and multidisciplinary team members, a certificate program like this can be implemented in a variety of settings and specialties.