Calum T McHale1, Anita H Laidlaw2, Joanne E Cecil2. 1. Population and Behavioural Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK ctm2@st-andrews.ac.uk. 2. Population and Behavioural Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary care is ideally placed to play an effective role in patient weight management; however, patient weight is seldom discussed in this context. A synthesis of studies that directly observe weight discussion in primary care is required to more comprehensively understand and improve primary care weight-related communication. OBJECTIVE: To systematically identify and examine primary care observational research that investigates weight-related communication and its relationship to patient weight outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review of literature published up to August 2015, using seven electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Scopus and PsycINFO), was conducted using search terms such as overweight, obese and/or doctor-patient communication. RESULTS: Twenty papers were included in the final review. Communication analysis focused predominantly on 'practitioner' use of specific patient-centred communication. Practitioner use of motivational interviewing was associated with improved patient weight-related outcomes, including patient weight loss and increased patient readiness to lose weight; however, few studies measured patient weight-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: Studies directly observing weight-related communication in primary care are scarce and limited by a lack of focus on patient communication and patient weight-related outcomes. Future research should measure practitioner and patient communications during weight discussion and their impact on patient weight-related outcomes. This knowledge may inform the development of a communication intervention to assist practitioners to more effectively discuss weight with their overweight and/or obese patients.
BACKGROUND: Primary care is ideally placed to play an effective role in patient weight management; however, patient weight is seldom discussed in this context. A synthesis of studies that directly observe weight discussion in primary care is required to more comprehensively understand and improve primary care weight-related communication. OBJECTIVE: To systematically identify and examine primary care observational research that investigates weight-related communication and its relationship to patient weight outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review of literature published up to August 2015, using seven electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Scopus and PsycINFO), was conducted using search terms such as overweight, obese and/or doctor-patient communication. RESULTS: Twenty papers were included in the final review. Communication analysis focused predominantly on 'practitioner' use of specific patient-centred communication. Practitioner use of motivational interviewing was associated with improved patient weight-related outcomes, including patientweight loss and increased patient readiness to lose weight; however, few studies measured patient weight-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: Studies directly observing weight-related communication in primary care are scarce and limited by a lack of focus on patient communication and patient weight-related outcomes. Future research should measure practitioner and patient communications during weight discussion and their impact on patient weight-related outcomes. This knowledge may inform the development of a communication intervention to assist practitioners to more effectively discuss weight with their overweight and/or obesepatients.
Authors: Anthony Dowell; Maria Stubbe; Lindsay Macdonald; Rachel Tester; Lesley Gray; Sue Vernall; Tim Kenealy; Nicolette Sheridan; Barbara Docherty; Devi-Ann Hall; Deborah Raphael; Kevin Dew Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Linda C Tapsell; Maureen Lonergan; Marijka J Batterham; Elizabeth P Neale; Allison Martin; Rebecca Thorne; Frank Deane; Gregory Peoples Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 2.692