Overview of the Iowa Model
The Iowa model is the best suitable approach for this problem since it emphasizes action research. In order to help nurses apply research findings to enhance patient care, the IOWA model was created. An issue or opportunity must be identified, a goal must be established, a team must be assembled, the evidence must be gathered, evaluated, and synthesized, practice modifications must be developed and piloted, integrated and sustained, and information must be disseminated.
Description of the Search Strategy
To answer the question of the effect of Ozempic on weight loss compared to phentermine in patients aged 18-65 with obesity, I checked many articles related to this topic. To search for data on the first drug, I entered its name and added “weight loss.” By doing so, I found information on the drug’s effectiveness in obesity. To find statistics on the results of this drug, I searched for “study landmark.” To find information on phentermine, I also entered its name and added “weight loss” to it. To find data related to addiction, I used the keywords “phentermine addiction.” By doing so, I discovered all the cases of addiction in patients. After that, I entered “phentermine effectiveness in obesity,” which helped me learn the action principle and the drug’s results.
Presentation of Research Articles Related to the Clinical Question
Ozempic
Ozempic is the trade name for semaglutide, a new member of the aGPP-1 group that did not hit the market until 2019 (Chamberlin & Dabbs, 2019). It is 94% similar in structure to natural glucagon-like peptide-1, so it has the strongest stimulatory effect on insulin production (Chamberlin & Dabbs, 2019). The drug is considered more effective than its predecessors due to significant weight loss achieved through regulating hunger/satiety processes in the brain and related reduced caloric intake by 25% on average, especially due to the reduction of cravings for high-calorie foods (Chamberlin & Dabbs, 2019). The prolonged action and the need to administer the drug only once a week due to structural changes in the molecule and its resistance to enzymatic degradation are also positive sides.
Ozempic is injected weekly into the buttock or abdomen to treat type 2 diabetes. Experts demonstrated the medication’s efficacy against obesity and overweight back in 2021 (Scheen, 2019). An analog of the naturally occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GFP-1), which is involved in glucose metabolism and helps control hunger, is semaglutide.
Ozempic and other drugs for type 2 diabetes can aid in weight loss. They reduce hunger and impede digestion by acting on certain receptors in the body. As a result, a person consumes fewer calories and has less frequent hunger pangs. The majority of patients were able to lose weight in that period, according to one phase 3 experiment that examined weight reduction prior to reaching the maximal dose at 20 weeks (Scheen, 2019). Over the next 48 weeks of the trial, participants noticed more weight reduction.
Phentermine
Phentermine is a medication used to treat obesity; it works by releasing norepinephrine and suppressing appetite as a result. It poses various risks to the human body, which is why it is prohibited in many nations (Lei et al., 2021). Adrenergic stimulants enhance the release of norepinephrine in specific brain locations, which leads to decreased appetite. Randomized studies have demonstrated that when phentermine is administered, it increases a patient’s weight reduction by 3-4% compared to a placebo (Tak & Lee, 2021).
In patients who tend to have raised blood pressure or are getting hypotensive therapy, blood pressure should be closely monitored while taking the medication (Himmerich et al., 2021). Treatment with phentermine is only permitted in individuals with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 or at-risk patients with a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 (Garcia-Martinez, 2022). Some of the most typical phentermine adverse effects are nervousness, dry mouth, constipation, and arterial hypertension.
Comparison of Ozempic and Phentermine
Thus, Ozempic and phentermine improve conditions for fat loss, but they do not burn fat. However, Ozempic is a safer remedy, as it does not cause dependence and complications of the disease. Along with taking the medication, it is recommended to exercise, follow a strict diet, give up alcohol and bread, and avoid sweets. Significant results will be achieved and will last only with the patient’s further efforts. It is important to remember that there is a significant probability of developing withdrawal syndrome and the weight returning to its previous values after stopping specific pharmacological therapy.
Table 1 – Summary of Primary Source of Evidence Table.