Predictors of weight discussion in primary care consultations: A multilevel modeling approach.

OBJECTIVE: To understand how primary care weight-related communication processes are influenced by individual differences in primary care practitioner (PCP) and patient characteristics and communication use. METHODS: Two multilevel logistic regression models were calculated to predict the occurrence of 1) weight-related discussion and 2) weight-related consultation outcomes. Coded communication data (Roter Interaction Analysis System) from 218 video-recorded consultations between PCPs and patients with overweight and obesity in Scottish primary care practices were combined with their demographic data to develop the multilevel models. RESULTS: Weight-related discussions were more likely to occur when a greater proportion of PCP's total communication was partnership building and activating communication. More discrete weight discussions during a consultation predicted weight-related consultation outcomes. Patient BMI positively predicted both weight-related discussion and consultation outcomes. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates that multilevel modeling is a viable approach to investigating coded primary care weight-related communication data and that it can provide insight into the impact that various patient and PCP factors have on these communication processes. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Through the increased use of partnership building and activating communications, and by engaging in shorter, but more frequent, discussions about patient weight, PCPs may better facilitate weight-related discussion and weight-related consultation outcomes for their patients.

A controlled pilot trial of a nurse-led intervention (Mini-AFTERc) to manage fear of cancer recurrence in patients affected by breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is common in people affected by breast cancer. FCR is associated with increased health service and medication use, anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life. Existing interventions for FCR are time and resource intensive, making implementation in a National Health Service (NHS) setting challenging. To effectively manage FCR in current clinical practice, less intensive FCR interventions are required. Mini-AFTERc is a structured 30-min counselling intervention delivered over the telephone and is designed to normalise moderate FCR levels by targeting unhelpful behaviours and misconceptions about cancer recurrence.This multi-centre non-randomised controlled pilot trial will investigate the feasibility of delivering the Mini-AFTERc intervention, its acceptability and usefulness, in relation to specialist breast cancer nurses (SBCNs) and patients. This protocol describes the rationale, methods and analysis plan for this pilot trial of the Mini-AFTERc intervention in everyday practice. METHODS: This study will run in four breast cancer centres in NHS Scotland, two intervention and two control centres. SBCNs at intervention centres will be trained to deliver the Mini-AFTERc intervention. Female patients who have completed primary breast cancer treatment in the previous 6 months will be screened for moderate FCR (FCR4 score: 10­14). Participants at intervention centres will receive the Mini-AFTERc intervention within 2 weeks of recruitment. SBCNs will audio record the intervention telephone discussions with participants. Fidelity of intervention implementation will be assessed from audio recordings. All participants will complete three separate follow-up questionnaires assessing changes in FCR, anxiety, depression and quality of life over 3 months. Normalisation process theory (NPT) will form the framework for semi-structured interviews with 20% of patients and all SBCNs. Interviews will explore participants' experience of the study, acceptability and usefulness of the intervention and factors influencing implementation within clinical practice. The ADePT process will be adopted to systematically problem solve and refine the trial design. DISCUSSION: Findings will provide evidence for the potential effectiveness, fidelity, acceptability and practicality of the Mini-AFTERc intervention, and will inform the design and development of a large randomised controlled trial (RCT). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0376382. Registered 4th December 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03763825.

Primary care patient and practitioner views of weight and weight-related discussion: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the beliefs that primary care practitioners (PCPs) and patients with overweight and obesity have about obesity and primary care weight management in Scotland. SETTING: Seven National Health Service (NHS) Scotland primary care centres. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 305 patients and 14 PCPs (12 general practitioners; two practice nurses) participated. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study. PCPs and patients completed questionnaires assessing beliefs about obesity and primary care weight communication and management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with PCPs to elaborate on questionnaire topics. Quantitative and qualitative data were synthesised to address study objectives. RESULTS: (1) Many patients with overweight and obesity did not accurately perceive their weight or risk of developing weight-related health issues; (2) PCPs and patients reported behavioural factors as the most important cause of obesity, and medical factors as the most important consequence; (3) PCPs perceive their role in weight management as awareness raising and signposting, not prevention or weight monitoring; (4) PCPs identify structural and patient-related factors as barriers to weight communication and management, but not PCP factors. CONCLUSIONS: Incongruent and/or inaccurate beliefs held by PCPs and patient may present barriers to effective weight discussion and management in primary care. There is a need to review, standardise and clarify primary care weight management processes in Scotland. Acknowledging a shared responsibility for obesity as a disease may improve outcomes for patients with overweight and obesity.

An analysis of directly observed weight communication processes between primary care practitioners and overweight patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse weight-related communication prevalence and processes (content/context) between primary care practitioners (PCPs) and overweight patients within routine primary healthcare consultations. METHODS: Consultations between 14 PCPs and 218 overweight patients (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) were video recorded. Weight communication was coded using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) and the novel St Andrews Issue Response Analysis System (SAIRAS). Communication code frequencies were analysed. RESULTS: Weight discussion occurred in 25% of consultations with overweight patients; 26% of these had weight-related consultation outcomes (e.g. weight-related counselling and referrals, stated weight-related intention from patients). Weight discussions were more likely to occur if PCPs provided space to patient attempts to discuss weight (p = 0.013). Longer weight discussions (p < 0.001) and contextualising weight as problematic when PCP/patient-initiated weight discussion (p < 0.001) were associated with weight-related consultation outcomes. CONCLUSION: Weight was rarely discussed with overweight patients, however PCP space provision to patient weight-discussion initiation attempts increased weight discussion. When weight was discussed, increased time and/or contextualising weight as a problem increased the likelihood of weight-related consultation outcomes. PRACTICAL IMPLICATION: PCP use of specific communication approaches when discussing, contextualising and responding to patient weight may facilitate weight-related discussion and consultation outcomes and could lead to more effective patient weight management.

Direct observation of weight-related communication in primary care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Primary care is ideally placed to play an effective role in patient weight management; however, patient weight is seldom discussed in this context. A synthesis of studies that directly observe weight discussion in primary care is required to more comprehensively understand and improve primary care weight-related communication. OBJECTIVE: To systematically identify and examine primary care observational research that investigates weight-related communication and its relationship to patient weight outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review of literature published up to August 2015, using seven electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Scopus and PsycINFO), was conducted using search terms such as overweight, obese and/or doctor-patient communication. RESULTS: Twenty papers were included in the final review. Communication analysis focused predominantly on 'practitioner' use of specific patient-centred communication. Practitioner use of motivational interviewing was associated with improved patient weight-related outcomes, including patient weight loss and increased patient readiness to lose weight; however, few studies measured patient weight-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: Studies directly observing weight-related communication in primary care are scarce and limited by a lack of focus on patient communication and patient weight-related outcomes. Future research should measure practitioner and patient communications during weight discussion and their impact on patient weight-related outcomes. This knowledge may inform the development of a communication intervention to assist practitioners to more effectively discuss weight with their overweight and/or obese patients.