scholarly journals GP-delivered brief weight loss interventions: a cohort study of patient responses and subsequent actions, using conversation analysis in UK primary care

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (674) ◽  
pp. e646-e653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Albury ◽  
Elizabeth Stokoe ◽  
Sue Ziebland ◽  
Helena Webb ◽  
Paul Aveyard

BackgroundGuidelines encourage GPs to make brief opportunistic interventions to support weight loss. However, GPs fear that starting these discussions will lead to lengthy consultations. Recognising that patients are committed to take action could allow GPs to shorten brief interventions.AimTo examine which patient responses indicated commitment to action, and the time saved if these had been recognised and the consultation closed sooner.Design and settingA mixed-method cohort study of UK primary care patients participating in a trial of opportunistic weight management interventions.MethodConversation analysis was applied to 226 consultation audiorecordings to identify types of responses from patients that indicated that an offer of referral to weight management was well received. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to examine associations between response types and likelihood of weight management programme attendance.ResultsAffirmative responses, for example ‘yes’, displayed no conversational evidence that the referral was well received and showed no association with attendance: ‘yes’ (OR 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.37 to 3.95, P = 0.97). However, ‘oh’-prefaced responses and marked positive responses, for example ‘lovely’, showed conversational evidence of enthusiasm and were associated with higher odds of commercial weight management service attendance. Recognising these could have saved doctors a mean of 31 seconds per consultation.ConclusionWhen doctors make brief opportunistic interventions that incorporate the offer of help, ‘oh’-prefaced or marked positive responses indicate enthusiastic acceptance of the offer and a higher likelihood of take-up. Recognising these responses and moving swiftly to facilitate patient action would shorten the brief intervention in many cases.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte V A Albury ◽  
Sue Ziebland ◽  
Helena Webb ◽  
Elizabeth Stokoe ◽  
Paul Aveyard

Abstract Background GPs are encouraged to make brief interventions to support weight loss, but they report concern about these conversations, stating that they need more details on what to say. Knowing how engage in these conversations could encourage GPs to deliver brief interventions for weight loss more frequently. Objective To examine which specific words and phrases were successful in achieving conversational alignment and minimizing misunderstanding, contributing to effective interventions. Methods A conversation analysis of English family practice patients participating in a trial of opportunistic weight-management interventions, which incorporated the offer of referral to community weight-management services (CWMS). Qualitative conversation analysis was applied to 246 consultation recordings to identify communication patterns, which contributed to clear, efficient interventions. Results Analysis showed variation in how GPs delivered interventions. Some ways of talking created misunderstandings or misalignment, while others avoided these. There were five components of clear and efficient opportunistic weight-management referrals. These were (i) exemplifying CWMS with a recognizable brand name (ii) saying weight-management ‘programme’ or ‘service’, rather than ‘group’ or ‘club’ (iii) stating that the referral is ‘free’ early on (iv) saying the number CWMS visits available on referral (v) stating that the CWMS programme available was ‘local’. Conclusions When making a brief opportunistic intervention to support weight loss, clinicians can follow these five steps to create a smooth and efficient intervention. Knowing this may allay clinicians’ fears about these consultations being awkward and improve adherence to guidelines.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A Jebb ◽  
Nerys M Astbury ◽  
Sarah Tearne ◽  
Alecia Nickless ◽  
Paul Aveyard

IntroductionThe global prevalence of obesity has risen significantly in recent decades. There is a pressing need to identify effective interventions to treat established obesity that can be delivered at scale. The aim of the Doctor Referral of Overweight People to a Low-Energy Treatment (DROPLET) study is to determine the clinical effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of referral to a low-energy total diet replacement programme compared with usual weight management interventions in primary care.Methods and analysisThe DROPLET trial is a randomised controlled trial comparing a low-energy total diet replacement programme with usual weight management interventions delivered in primary care. Eligible patients will be recruited through primary care registers and randomised to receive a behavioural support programme delivered by their practice nurse or a referral to a commercial provider offering an initial 810 kcal/d low-energy total diet replacement programme for 8 weeks, followed by gradual food reintroduction, along with weekly behavioural support for 24 weeks. The primary outcome is weight change at 12 months. The secondary outcomes are weight change at 3 and 6 months, the proportion of participants achieving 5% and 10% weight loss at 12 months, and change in fat mass, haemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 12 months. Data will be analysed on the basis of intention to treat. Qualitative interviews on a subsample of patients and healthcare providers will assess their experiences of the weight loss programmes and identify factors affecting acceptability and adherence.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been reviewed and approved by the National Health ServiceHealth Research Authority (HRA)Research Ethics Committee (Ref: SC/15/0337). The trial findings will be disseminated to academic and health professionals through presentations at meetings and peer-reviewed journals and to the public through the media. If the intervention is effective, the results will be communicated to policymakers and commissioners of weight management services.Trial registration numberISRCTN75092026.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Rock ◽  
Juliana Chen ◽  
Joanna Jaques ◽  
Bernard L Champion ◽  
Reginald V Lord ◽  
...  

Abstract Over 2.5 billion people worldwide are overweight or obese. Multidisciplinary weight management interventions have evolved to address the complexity of weight loss for those with one or more chronic diseases, and the trend of weight regain. The aim of these interventions is to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes, resulting in weight loss and weight maintenance and improvements in comorbidities. While some prospective clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy, results are often not reported by real life practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Sydney based multidisciplinary weight management clinic with endocrinology, dietetics, exercise physiology, psychology, and bariatric surgical domains. All patients who attended the clinic for weight loss purposes between March 2017 and April 2019 were included (n=220). A retrospective chart review was conducted. Patient data on weight, BMI, waist circumference, body composition measurements, and selected blood test results and co-morbidities were analysed. All patient therapy included endocrinological input for co-morbidity identification and management, lifestyle intervention (dietetic and exercise physiology input) with optional adjunct pharmacotherapy or psychological counselling. Of the 220 cohort, 20 of the patients had sleeve gastrectomy. Patient retention in the clinic after the first consultation was 85% (n=186), a high rate within the weight management community. 59% of patients achieved a minimum of 5% total body weight loss, including 18% who achieved greater than 10% total body weight loss. Additionally, 31% of patients lost enough weight to decrease their BMI class by up to 2 or more classes. Of the gastric sleeve cohort average excess body weight loss was 32kg (21-56kg) enhanced by multidisciplinary care in the lead up to surgery. Across the cohort some patients completely reversed co-morbidities; including dyslipidaemia (n=1), hypertension (n=3), NAFLD (n=1), pre-diabetes (n=8) and type 2 diabetes (n=3), OSA (n=1). These results demonstrate that obesity is a chronic condition that can be successfully managed. We have demonstrated significant durable weight loss and improvement in metabolic co-morbidities with holistic coordinated care. Future directions include translating this model of care into standard practice in Australia and other countries where obesity to date not received the same coordinated approach as other chronic conditions.


BMC Obesity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha B. van Beurden ◽  
Sally I. Simmons ◽  
Jason C. H. Tang ◽  
Avril J. Mewse ◽  
Charles Abraham ◽  
...  

Obesity Facts ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renate Kruschitz ◽  
Sandra Wallner-Liebmann ◽  
Harald Lothaller ◽  
Maria Luger ◽  
Bernhard Ludvik

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