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Management of Overweight during Childhood: A Focus Group Study on Health Professionals' Experiences in General
Lone Marie Larsen1, Loni Ledderer2, Dorte Ejg Jarbøl3
1Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
Insights
General practitioners and nurses feel responsible for managing childhood obesity, but face barriers. Future programs need to address these challenges beyond standardized strategies for better childhood overweight management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- General Practice
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Western countries.
- Increased focus on management strategies within general practice settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) for childhood overweight/obesity management.
- To identify perceived responsibilities, challenges, and facilitators in managing pediatric obesity in primary care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing three focus groups with GPs and practice nurses involved in an RCT.
- Systematic text condensation followed by thematic analysis of transcribed data.
Main Results:
- Healthcare professionals acknowledged their responsibility and the complexity of managing childhood overweight, emphasizing the need for evidence-based, supervised strategies.
- Barriers to addressing childhood obesity were experienced, yet increased societal awareness of obesity facilitated understanding and approaches.
- GPs and nurses recognized their unique role and capacity in pediatric obesity management.
Conclusions:
- General practice professionals have a distinct obligation and capability in managing childhood obesity.
- Future management programs must overcome identified barriers and extend beyond standardized, evidence-based approaches to be effective.
Abstract:
Background. Because of the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood in the Western world, focus on the management in general practice has also increased. Objective. To explore the experiences of general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses participating in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing two management programmes in general practice for children who are overweight or obese. Methods. Three focus groups with GPs and nurses participating in the RCT. Transcribed data were analysed using systematic text condensation followed by thematic analysis. Results. Health professionals considered it their responsibility to offer a management programme to overweight children. They recognised that management of overweight during childhood was a complex task that required an evidence-based strategy with the possibility of supervision. Health professionals experienced a barrier to addressing overweight in children. However, increasing awareness of obesity in childhood and its consequences in society was considered helpful to reach an understanding of the articulations concerning how best to address the issue. Conclusions. Health professionals in general practice recognised that they have a special obligation, capacity, and role in the management of obesity in childhood. Implementation of future management programmes must address existing barriers beyond an evidence-based standardised strategy.
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