Australian GPs' perceptions about child and adolescent overweight and obesity: the Weight of Opinion study.
BACKGROUND
GPs can potentially play a significant role in assessing weight status, providing advice, and making referrals to address overweight and obesity and its consequences among children and adolescents.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the perceptions of GPs about overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, including the extent to which they perceive it as a concern, the factors they see as causal, what actions they consider might be needed, and their sense of responsibility and self-efficacy.


METHODS
A cross-sectional qualitative study of GPs' perceptions.


METHODS
General practice and primary health care services in the state of New South Wales, Australia.


METHODS
Focus groups using a structured protocol were conducted with samples of GPs. Groups comprised a mix of male and female GPs from a range of cultural backgrounds and working in practices in low, medium and high socioeconomic areas. Data were recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used to identify key themes.


RESULTS
Many GPs are concerned about the increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. They are committed to dealing with the medical consequences, but are aware of the broad range of social causes. GPs perceived that parents are sensitive about this topic, making it difficult for them to raise the issue directly in clinical practice, unless they use lateral strategies. GPs were confident about providing advice, with some managing the problem independently, while others preferred to refer to specialised services. GPs perceived that there were significant barriers to patient compliance with advice.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas some GPs manage patients' lifestyle change directly, including children's weight management, others prefer to refer. Programmes, service delivery systems, and resources to support both approaches are required.
King
Lesley A
LA
NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia. lking@health.usyd.edu.au
Loss
Julika H M
JH
Wilkenfeld
Rachel L
RL
Pagnini
Deanna L
DL
Booth
Michael L
ML
Booth
Susan L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012017:Referral and Consultation