Obesity - Nurses
Weight Loss Study Aim
To examine the impact of two styles of educational package on practice
nurses' management of obesity.
Weight Loss Study Measurements
A questionnaire was completed by 66 practice nurses concerning their obesity
related beliefs and the content and style of their weight related practices
before and one month after being randomly allocated to either the 'learner
centred' group (who received a leaflet and were invited to attend an interactive
seminar), the 'expert group' (who received the leaflet) or the control
group. At the one month follow up, practice nurses were also asked to
give a brief questionnaire to five consecutive patients, who they saw
for weight loss advice, concerning the content and style of the consultation.
After 6 months, practice nurses, and patients were sent a questionnaire
about their consultation style and weight loss, respectively.
Weight Loss Study Results
The packages had no differential effects on practice nurses' beliefs about
obesity. However, practice nurses in the 'learner group' reported spending
longer on their consultations and being more patient centred. Their patients
rated themselves as more satisfied with the consultation and reported
that they were offered calorie-controlled diets less often. In contrast,
practice nurses in the 'expert group' reported giving weight loss advice
more frequently, being less patient centred and their patients reported
greater confidence in, and likelihood of, weight loss and reported that
they were more likely to be offered traditional weight loss interventions.
The packages had no differential effects on patient weight.
Weight Loss Study Conclusion
Practice nurses' and patients' beliefs and behaviour and the style of
their interactions can be changed by both expert and learner centred educational
packages. The style of packages should be chosen in terms of both the
available resources and the desired outcomes.
Source: International Journal of Obesity
(1997)
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