GPs’ attitudes, objectives and barriers in counselling for obesity—a qualitative study

Abstract

KEY MESSAGE(S):· General practitioners want to play a relatively passive role in the management of obesity · Motivating patients is a key goal of primary care consultations on obesity · Perceived lack of motivation in patients is an important barrier to successful obesity management by general practitioners ABSTRACT Background: Increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide requires providing support for many patients. GPs in particular, as longterm supervisors of patients, are asked to deliver care to those aff ected. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed at identifying GPs ' perspectives on counselling overweight and obese patients. Methods: To that end, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Berlin with GPs regarding their objectives and barriers in overweight care. Fifteen GPs participated; interviews were audio taped, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results : Analysis showed a diff erentiated pattern of medical and psychosocial objectives in obesity treatment. Overall, it was seen that GPs wanted to play a relatively passive role in treatment of obesity. In particular, motivating patients was a key goal of primary care consultations; at the same time patients ' lack of motivation was a main barrier to successful treatment. Conclusion:Care for obese patients is perceived as ineff ective and frustrating. Recommended solutions include further education to improve GPs ' communication techniques, e.g. to trigger patients ' motivation.

A qualitative study of GPs' views towards obesity: are they fighting or giving up?

“…Similarly to the findings of Sonntag et al, 12 GPs emphasized the active role of patients in achieving necessary lifestyle changes to lose weight. However, contrary to these same results, physicians don't perceive themselves only as supervisors in the change process: they believe they can play an active role in obesity treatment since, contrarily to the results of Epstein and Ogden, 5 they consider obesity management as part of their workload.…”

“…5 In addition, a systematic review conducted by Teixeira et al 6 indicates that GPs have insufficient knowledge and training regarding obesity counselling and they also seem to hold negative beliefs and attitudes towards these patients who are described as lazy, unattractive, unmotivated, emotionally unstable and with no self-control, being therefore unable to adhere to treatment programs. 7e11 In addition, Sonntag et al 12 indicate that GPs are playing a relatively passive role in obesity management. They emphasize the active role of patients in achieving the necessary lifestyle changes, perceiving themselves only as supervisors of behaviour changes.…”

Primary care obesity management in Hungary: evaluation of the knowledge, practice and attitudes of family physicians

“…The doctors’ and nurses’ own weight status was not closely related to their referral and assessment of overweight or obese patients. Associations with their relevant knowledge/skills and specific treatment behaviors were inconsistent and at the same time, patients’ lack of motivation was mentioned as a main barrier to successful treatment [4,7,9,11,16,23]. …”

The experience of pregnant women with a body mass index >30 kg/m2 of their encounters with healthcare professionals

“…Information about the experience of women with obesity in their encounters with healthcare professionals and vice versa during pregnancy is limited . Healthcare professionals are thought to lack the necessary communication skills and they tend to avoid speaking about obesity to obese patients . Obesity in pregnancy affects both mother and child, and women with obesity feel particularly vulnerable during their pregnancy .…”