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Primary care patient and practitioner views of weight and weight-related discussion: a mixed-methods study.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To understand the beliefs that primary care practitioners (PCPs) and patients with overweight and obesity have about obesity and primary care weight management in Scotland. SETTING:Seven National Health Service (NHS) Scotland primary care centres. PARTICIPANTS:A total of 305 patients and 14 PCPs (12 general practitioners; two practice nurses) participated. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY:A cross-sectional mixed-methods study. PCPs and patients completed questionnaires assessing beliefs about obesity and primary care weight communication and management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with PCPs to elaborate on questionnaire topics. Quantitative and qualitative data were synthesised to address study objectives. RESULTS:(1) Many patients with overweight and obesity did not accurately perceive their weight or risk of developing weight-related health issues; (2) PCPs and patients reported behavioural factors as the most important cause of obesity, and medical factors as the most important consequence; (3) PCPs perceive their role in weight management as awareness raising and signposting, not prevention or weight monitoring; (4) PCPs identify structural and patient-related factors as barriers to weight communication and management, but not PCP factors. CONCLUSIONS:Incongruent and/or inaccurate beliefs held by PCPs and patient may present barriers to effective weight discussion and management in primary care. There is a need to review, standardise and clarify primary care weight management processes in Scotland. Acknowledging a shared responsibility for obesity as a disease may improve outcomes for patients with overweight and obesity.

SUBMITTER: McHale CT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7064140 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Primary care patient and practitioner views of weight and weight-related discussion: a mixed-methods study.

McHale Calum T CT Laidlaw Anita H AH Cecil Joanne E JE

BMJ open 20200309 3

<h4>Objective</h4>To understand the beliefs that primary care practitioners (PCPs) and patients with overweight and obesity have about obesity and primary care weight management in Scotland.<h4>Setting</h4>Seven National Health Service (NHS) Scotland primary care centres.<h4>Participants</h4>A total of 305 patients and 14 PCPs (12 general practitioners; two practice nurses) participated.<h4>Design and methodology</h4>A cross-sectional mixed-methods study. PCPs and patients completed questionnair ...[more]

PMID: 32156764

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Dataset Information

Primary care patient and practitioner views of weight and weight-related discussion: a mixed-methods study.

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Primary care patient and practitioner views of weight and weight-related discussion: a mixed-methods study.

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