Paediatric teams in front of childhood obesity: A qualitative study within the STOP project

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Public health
• Childhood obesity management

Background:

• Childhood overweight and obesity present a significant public health challenge.
• Effective support for families requires understanding factors influencing care approaches.
• Addressing childhood obesity necessitates insights into healthcare provider perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pediatric healthcare staff attitudes and feelings regarding childhood obesity discussions with parents.
• To identify perceived barriers and facilitators to effective childhood obesity care.
• To explore strategies for improving pediatric staff-parent interactions on obesity.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 57 pediatric staff (pediatricians, nurses) in Mallorca.
• Participants were from primary healthcare centers and hospitals.
• Thematic analysis was employed to interpret the qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Key themes included parental attitudes towards childhood obesity, parental help-seeking behaviors, and pediatric staff approaches to discussing obesity.
• Sub-themes revealed parental awareness and requests for assistance.
• Barriers identified involved health system limitations, teamwork, health policy, and family participation.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric staff possess knowledge for treating childhood obesity but require enhanced training in motivational techniques.
• Building parental recognition of the problem and fostering trust are crucial for effective therapy.
• Systemic barriers within the healthcare system impede pediatric personnel's ability to manage childhood obesity effectively.