Patient perceptions of weight loss: Implications for patients, providers, and trainees. Int J Psychiatry Med 2016 May;51(4):325-36
Date
08/09/2016Pubmed ID
27497453DOI
10.1177/0091217416659269Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84982947754 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 10 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of overweight and obese individuals in the United States is growing, and primary health care represents a setting in which providers may address weight with their patients. However, many providers and medical trainees feel ill-prepared to address the full scope of complexities associated with weight loss. This study sought to investigate patients' perceptions of the barriers and facilitators they encountered in their weight loss journeys. The results of the mixed-methods study will be used to inform a better understanding among providers and medical students of how to address weight loss with their patients. This study was approved by the institutional review board of Medical College of Wisconsin.
METHODS: Participants were selected from patient panels at a Family Medicine Residency Program. Participants who enrolled in the study completed a survey that collected attitudes and behaviors about weight loss and demographics. The patients also participated in a 60- to 90-min guided interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using open-coding techniques and principles of grounded theory.
RESULTS: To date, five participants completed the study. All were female with a mean age of 52 years. Two primary themes emerged from a grounded theory model. The first theme centered on individual's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to lost weight. The second theme emphasized that societal relationships serve as both a barrier and a facilitator to weight loss.
CONCLUSION: The overarching conclusion of this study is that individuals often have the knowledge to make positive health behaviors changes, but multiple factors may prohibit this from occurring. When a supportive environment exists, healthy behavior changes are more attainable. Physicians, mid-level providers, and medical trainees and even medical systems can provide appropriate support to join the patient on their weight loss journey.
Author List
Nelson DA, Ruffalo LA, Dyer AJ, Nelson KHAuthors
David A. Nelson PhD Professor in the Family Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinLeslie Ruffalo PhD Director, Associate Professor in the Family Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Body WeightFemale
Health Behavior
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Surveys
Humans
Middle Aged
Obesity
Overweight
Physicians
Primary Health Care
United States
Weight Loss
