Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Overweight in children is a rising problem leading to serious consequences later in life. The Dutch guideline ‘Obesity’ for general practitioners recommends discussing obesity in children regardless of the reason of consultation and provides diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Howe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-1088-3 |
| _version_ | 1818235256933711872 |
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| author | Joline C. van der Maas Ronald J. Corbee Floor M. Kroese Denise T. D. de Ridder Rimke C. Vos Mirjam Nielen Evelyn Monninkhof |
| author_facet | Joline C. van der Maas Ronald J. Corbee Floor M. Kroese Denise T. D. de Ridder Rimke C. Vos Mirjam Nielen Evelyn Monninkhof |
| author_sort | Joline C. van der Maas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Overweight in children is a rising problem leading to serious consequences later in life. The Dutch guideline ‘Obesity’ for general practitioners recommends discussing obesity in children regardless of the reason of consultation and provides diagnostic and therapeutic tools. However, limited literature indicates that general practitioners experience barriers to discuss this topic. The aim of this study was to determine current perceived barriers of general practitioners in discussing overweight during a regular consultation in children aged 4 to 12 years and to what extent they discuss the topic. Furthermore, we attempt to get more insight in the specific needs and ideas for improvement among GPs. Methods A semi-structured in-depth interview study was conducted. Dutch general practitioners with a broad range of demographic characteristics were invited to participate. The transcripts were analysed using a modified version of the constant comparative method. Using this method, we identified perceived barriers of general practitioners. Results Ten general practitioners were included in the study. Four major themes were identified in the interviews: absence of physical or mental complaints related to overweight, internal barriers of the general practitioners, the child’s family background and logistics. Major barriers appeared to be a low consultation rate of these children, the sensitivity of the topic (e.g. fear for children’s or parents’ reactions and/or disturbance of the relation, influence on the self-esteem of the child, resistance in the parents), the absence of a long-standing relation between general practitioner and child or parent, the background of the child and lack of time or prioritizing. Conclusion Dutch general practitioners indicate to experience barriers and need tools for how to discuss children’s overweight during regular consultations within the limited time available. The low consultation rate among children aged 4 to 12 years due to lack of physical complaints is mentioned as a new and important barrier. Therefore, the prior focus might be raising awareness among parents concerning overweight in children aged 4 to 12 years and, thereby, stressing the potential supporting role of primary care professionals in tackling the overweight of their child. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:51:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6053954589b44f2f9ca230ff8b14450b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:51:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-6053954589b44f2f9ca230ff8b14450b2022-12-22T00:25:19ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962020-01-012111810.1186/s12875-020-1088-3Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative studyJoline C. van der Maas0Ronald J. Corbee1Floor M. Kroese2Denise T. D. de Ridder3Rimke C. Vos4Mirjam Nielen5Evelyn Monninkhof6Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityVeterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversitySocial, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht UniversitySocial, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht UniversityJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityVeterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityAbstract Background Overweight in children is a rising problem leading to serious consequences later in life. The Dutch guideline ‘Obesity’ for general practitioners recommends discussing obesity in children regardless of the reason of consultation and provides diagnostic and therapeutic tools. However, limited literature indicates that general practitioners experience barriers to discuss this topic. The aim of this study was to determine current perceived barriers of general practitioners in discussing overweight during a regular consultation in children aged 4 to 12 years and to what extent they discuss the topic. Furthermore, we attempt to get more insight in the specific needs and ideas for improvement among GPs. Methods A semi-structured in-depth interview study was conducted. Dutch general practitioners with a broad range of demographic characteristics were invited to participate. The transcripts were analysed using a modified version of the constant comparative method. Using this method, we identified perceived barriers of general practitioners. Results Ten general practitioners were included in the study. Four major themes were identified in the interviews: absence of physical or mental complaints related to overweight, internal barriers of the general practitioners, the child’s family background and logistics. Major barriers appeared to be a low consultation rate of these children, the sensitivity of the topic (e.g. fear for children’s or parents’ reactions and/or disturbance of the relation, influence on the self-esteem of the child, resistance in the parents), the absence of a long-standing relation between general practitioner and child or parent, the background of the child and lack of time or prioritizing. Conclusion Dutch general practitioners indicate to experience barriers and need tools for how to discuss children’s overweight during regular consultations within the limited time available. The low consultation rate among children aged 4 to 12 years due to lack of physical complaints is mentioned as a new and important barrier. Therefore, the prior focus might be raising awareness among parents concerning overweight in children aged 4 to 12 years and, thereby, stressing the potential supporting role of primary care professionals in tackling the overweight of their child.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-1088-3OverweightChildrenGeneral practiceRegular consultationsPrevention |
| spellingShingle | Joline C. van der Maas Ronald J. Corbee Floor M. Kroese Denise T. D. de Ridder Rimke C. Vos Mirjam Nielen Evelyn Monninkhof Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study BMC Family Practice Overweight Children General practice Regular consultations Prevention |
| title | Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice a qualitative study |
| topic | Overweight Children General practice Regular consultations Prevention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-1088-3 |
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