Experiences and perceptions of dietitians for obesity management: a general practice qualitative study

Sally Abbott; Helen Parretti; Sheila Greenfield

doi:10.1111/jhn.12855

Experiences and perceptions of dietitians for obesity management: a general practice qualitative study

Sally Abbott, Helen Parretti, Sheila Greenfield

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: Multi-component lifestyle interventions are the first line treatment for obesity. Dietitians are ideally placed healthcare professionals to deliver such interventions. However, only a small proportion of patients with obesity are referred by general practice to dietitians, and the reasons for this are not clear. The aim of this study was to explore general practice healthcare professionals’ (GPHCPs) experiences and perceptions of dietitians in the context of obesity management.

Method: A convenience sample of GPHCPs practicing in the UK was recruited via a targeted social media strategy, using virtual snowball sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using framework analysis.

Results: 20 participants were interviewed (11 General Practice Nurses and 9 General Practitioners). Experiences of referring patients with obesity for dietetic intervention resulted in two main themes: (i) access barriers; (ii) the dietetic consult experience. Three themes emerged from participants’ perceptions of a role for general practice dietitians: (i) utilising dietetic expertise; (ii) access to dietitian; (iii) time. Participants experienced barriers to accessing dietitians for obesity management and felt that having a dietitian working within their general practice team would help address this. Having a dietitian embedded within their general practice team was perceived to have the potential to alleviate GPHCPs’ clinical time pressures, offer opportunities for upskilling; and may improve patient engagement with obesity management.

Conclusion: GPHCPs perceived that embedding a dietitian within their general practice team would be valuable and beneficial for obesity management. Our findings provide support for the funding of general practice dietitian roles in the UK.

Keywords: General practice , primary care, obesity, weight loss, dietetics, qualitative research

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	494-503
Journal	Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Volume	34
Issue number	3
Early online date	13 Jan 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12855
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 13 Jan 2021

Keywords

dietetics
general practice
obesity
primary care
qualitative research
weight loss

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/jhn.12855Licence: None: All rights reserved

AbbottS2021Experinces
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Abbott, S., Parretti, H.M. and Greenfield, S. (2021), Experiences and perceptions of dietitians for obesity management: a general practice qualitative study. J Hum Nutr Diet., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12855. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Accepted author manuscript, 387 KB
AbbottS2021Experinces_tables
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Abbott, S., Parretti, H.M. and Greenfield, S. (2021), Experiences and perceptions of dietitians for obesity management: a general practice qualitative study. J Hum Nutr Diet., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12855. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Accepted author manuscript, 257 KBLicence: None: All rights reserved

Cite this

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title = "Experiences and perceptions of dietitians for obesity management: a general practice qualitative study",

abstract = "Background: Multi-component lifestyle interventions are the first line treatment for obesity. Dietitians are ideally placed healthcare professionals to deliver such interventions. However, only a small proportion of patients with obesity are referred by general practice to dietitians, and the reasons for this are not clear. The aim of this study was to explore general practice healthcare professionals{\textquoteright} (GPHCPs) experiences and perceptions of dietitians in the context of obesity management. Method: A convenience sample of GPHCPs practicing in the UK was recruited via a targeted social media strategy, using virtual snowball sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using framework analysis. Results: 20 participants were interviewed (11 General Practice Nurses and 9 General Practitioners). Experiences of referring patients with obesity for dietetic intervention resulted in two main themes: (i) access barriers; (ii) the dietetic consult experience. Three themes emerged from participants{\textquoteright} perceptions of a role for general practice dietitians: (i) utilising dietetic expertise; (ii) access to dietitian; (iii) time. Participants experienced barriers to accessing dietitians for obesity management and felt that having a dietitian working within their general practice team would help address this. Having a dietitian embedded within their general practice team was perceived to have the potential to alleviate GPHCPs{\textquoteright} clinical time pressures, offer opportunities for upskilling; and may improve patient engagement with obesity management. Conclusion: GPHCPs perceived that embedding a dietitian within their general practice team would be valuable and beneficial for obesity management. Our findings provide support for the funding of general practice dietitian roles in the UK.Keywords: General practice , primary care, obesity, weight loss, dietetics, qualitative research",

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Experiences and perceptions of dietitians for obesity management: a general practice qualitative study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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