title: The local implementation of a chronic disease management model for childhood overweight and obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to determine opportunities and barriers regarding the management of overweight and obese children in daily practice, and to show the value of using focus groups when developing an action plan for childhood overweight management in a local context.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven focus groups and four semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 professionals from nine different care disciplines and 7 parents of overweight and obese children aged 4-19 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After thorough analysis of the focus groups, issues concerning finding the most appropriate care and realising a long-term weight management in daily practice have become clear. Some examples of these issues are: lack of awareness, reluctance to discuss and refer, mutual cooperation, contradictory advice and expectations of treatment and lack of effective support strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focus groups deliver important information on local issues that are important for the development and implementation of a childhood overweight management action plan. And, besides delivering necessary information, focus groups lead to an increased awareness and willingness to improve childhood overweight management in a local context.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for the Prevention of Overweight, VU University Amsterdam/Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, the Netherlands. w.brink@icare.nl
authors.forename: Willy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Brink-Melis
authors.forename: Elze R E
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Derksen
authors.forename: Marjan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: Carry M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Renders
authors.forename: Jacob C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Seidell
authors.forename: Tommy L S
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Visscher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016730:Program Development; D002666:Psychology, Child; D055815:Young Adult