Enabling tomorrow’s doctors to address obesity in a GP consultation: an action research project

TY - JOUR

T1 - Enabling tomorrow’s doctors to address obesity in a GP consultation: an action research project

AU - Leedham-Green, Kathleen Elisabeth

AU - Pound, Rebecca

AU - Wylie, Ann

PY - 2016/7/16

Y1 - 2016/7/16

N2 - Obesity is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality, however guidelines for prevention and management are relatively recently established, and little is known about what needs to be in place to put these into practice. This research provides an insight into how senior medical students consult with obese patients in general practice, the range of their learning needs, and the impact of various educational strategies that aim to bring their practice closer to current evidence-based guidelines. It centres on a series of compulsory but formative reflective case studies written by final year students at one large medical school on their GP rotation as they consult independently with obese patients with ‘next room’ GP tutor support. Analysis of these case studies was used to inform a three-year educational action research project. By systematically identifying and addressing learning needs, including barriers and enablers to best practice, we have demonstrated how senior medical students, and their GP tutors, can acquire the role legitimacy and role competency required for effective practice.

AB - Obesity is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality, however guidelines for prevention and management are relatively recently established, and little is known about what needs to be in place to put these into practice. This research provides an insight into how senior medical students consult with obese patients in general practice, the range of their learning needs, and the impact of various educational strategies that aim to bring their practice closer to current evidence-based guidelines. It centres on a series of compulsory but formative reflective case studies written by final year students at one large medical school on their GP rotation as they consult independently with obese patients with ‘next room’ GP tutor support. Analysis of these case studies was used to inform a three-year educational action research project. By systematically identifying and addressing learning needs, including barriers and enablers to best practice, we have demonstrated how senior medical students, and their GP tutors, can acquire the role legitimacy and role competency required for effective practice.

KW - Obesity

KW - Medical education

KW - Behaviour change

KW - Health promotion

KW - Primary care

KW - General Practice

U2 - 10.1080/14739879.2016.1205459

DO - 10.1080/14739879.2016.1205459

M3 - Article

SN - 1473-9879

VL - 27

JO - Education for Primary Care

JF - Education for Primary Care

IS - 4

ER -