title: What do general practitioners think about an online self-regulation programme for health promotion? Focus group interviews.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic diseases may be prevented through programmes that promote physical activity and healthy nutrition. Computer-tailoring programmes are effective in changing behaviour in the short- and long-term. An important issue is the implementation of these programmes in general practice. However, there are several barriers that hinder the adoption of eHealth programmes in general practice. This study explored the feasibility of an eHealth programme that was designed, using self-regulation principles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven focus group interviews (a total of 62 GPs) were organized to explore GPs' opinions about the feasibility of the eHealth programme for prevention in general practice. At the beginning of each focus group, GPs were informed about the principles of the self-regulation programme 'My Plan'. Open-ended questions were used to assess the opinion of GPs about the content and the use of the programme. The focus groups discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and thematically analysed via NVivo software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the GPs was positive about the use of self-regulation strategies and about the use of computer-tailored programmes in general practice. There were contradictory results about the delivery mode of the programme. GPs also indicated that the programme might be less suited for patients with a low educational level or for old patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, GPs are positive about the adoption of self-regulation techniques for health promotion in their practice. However, they raised doubts about the adoption in general practice. This barrier may be addressed (1) by offering various ways to deliver the programme, and (2) by allowing flexibility to match different work flow systems. GPs also believed that the acceptability and usability of the programme was low for patients who are old or with low education. The issues raised by GPs will need to be taken into account when developing and implementing an eHealth programme in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Jolien.Plaete@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Jolien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plaete
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Geert.Crombez@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombez
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Ann.DeSmet@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeSmet
authors.affiliation: Department of General practice and Primary health care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Myriam.Deveugele@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deveugele
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Maite.Verloigne@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Maïté
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verloigne
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Ilse.Debourdeaudhuij@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003376:Counseling; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D017144:Focus Groups; D058005:General Practitioners; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods