Supporting weight focused discussions in primary care: A qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators

IF 3.1 2区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Patient Education and Counseling Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2025.109373

Gemma Sharp , Joanne A. Rathbone , Madeline L. West , Bi Yan Low , Isabella McGrath , Maria Bilal , Anne Nileshni Fernando

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

To understand perspectives of primary care professionals and trainee primary care professionals on discussions with higher weight patients focused on weight management support, particularly the barriers and facilitators to these discussions.

Methods

Qualified primary care professionals and trainee primary care professionals (N = 91) at varying career stages within Australia completed an online survey (as part of a larger study) with a series of open-ended questions about their experiences and requirements to facilitate effective weight-related discussions with higher weight patients. Survey responses were qualitatively analysed using thematic and content analysis.

Results

From the analyses, participants recognised their strengths, including non-judgemental and non-blaming attitudes, empathy and providing practical and tailored weight management solutions. Participants also indicated a need for more time and resources to deliver comprehensive, tailored care sensitively. Perceived barriers included appointment length/time and patient financial constraints for extended consultations, limited familiarity with suitable weight management options and challenges prioritising health and lifestyle factors over weight. Participants emphasised the need for resources and multidisciplinary support to facilitate effective weight-related discussions that focused on overall health and wellbeing.

Conclusions

Improving access to and awareness of clinical guidelines and existing resources, along with investing in specialised weight management services, could benefit primary care professionals across the career stage spectrum.

Practice implications

These findings suggest the need for health systems and leadership to support prioritisation of education, training, development of, and access to relevant curricula, tools, resources, and guidelines. This may facilitate primary care professionals (current and future) to raise weight-related discussions sensitively and effectively.

查看原文本刊更多论文

在初级保健中支持以体重为重点的讨论：障碍和促进因素的定性探索。

目的：了解初级保健专业人员和实习初级保健专业人员与高体重患者讨论体重管理支持的观点，特别是这些讨论的障碍和促进因素。方法：澳大利亚不同职业阶段的合格初级保健专业人员和实习初级保健专业人员（N = 91）完成了一项在线调查（作为一项更大研究的一部分），其中包含一系列关于他们的经历和要求的开放式问题，以促进与体重较高的患者进行有效的体重相关讨论。使用主题和内容分析对调查答复进行定性分析。结果：从分析中，参与者认识到自己的优势，包括不评判和不指责的态度，同理心以及提供实用和量身定制的体重管理解决方案。与会者还表示，需要更多的时间和资源，以提供全面，量身定制的护理敏感。感知到的障碍包括预约时间/时间和患者对长期咨询的财务限制，对合适的体重管理选择的熟悉程度有限，以及将健康和生活方式因素置于体重之上的挑战。与会者强调需要提供资源和多学科支持，以促进与体重有关的有效讨论，重点关注整体健康和福祉。结论：提高临床指南和现有资源的获取和认识，以及对专业体重管理服务的投资，可以使整个职业阶段的初级保健专业人员受益。实践意义：这些发现表明，卫生系统和领导层需要支持教育、培训、开发和获得相关课程、工具、资源和指南的优先次序。这可能有助于初级保健专业人员（现在和将来）敏感而有效地提出与体重有关的讨论。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Patient Education and Counseling 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

11.40%

发文量

384

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Patient Education and Counseling is an interdisciplinary, international journal for patient education and health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians. The journal seeks to explore and elucidate the educational, counseling and communication models in health care. Its aim is to provide a forum for fundamental as well as applied research, and to promote the study of organizational issues involved with the delivery of patient education, counseling, health promotion services and training models in improving communication between providers and patients.