Perceptions of Obesity Treatment Options Among Healthcare Providers and Low-Income Primary Care Patients.
BACKGROUND
Primary care is a key component of medical care delivery and has a role to play in reducing obesity in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes and perceptions about obesity in low-income primary care patients and to identify preferences for weight management interventions from the patient and healthcare provider perspectives.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 28 patients and 6 healthcare providers from across the state of Louisiana participated in 1 of 5 structured focus groups. Demographic information was collected from both the patients and healthcare providers using survey instruments.


RESULTS
Patients and healthcare providers were more similar than dissimilar in their perceptions of obesity in that both groups selected referral to a nutritionist, use of medication, and prescribed exercise as the top 3 strategies that would have the greatest impact on losing weight. Referral to a nutritionist was selected as the easiest strategy to implement.


CONCLUSIONS
Receiving feedback from both patients and healthcare providers gives researchers the opportunity to acquire useful knowledge that may be beneficial in designing and conducting interventions suitable for patients desiring to lose weight, especially those in primary care settings.
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
Betty M
BM
Kennedy
College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA.
Kathleen B
KB
Kennedy
College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA.
Daniel F
DF
Sarpong
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
Peter T
PT
Katzmarzyk
Obesity; primary health care; weight loss; weight reduction programs