Abstract
Objective: Depression is an increasingly common mental health disorder in the UK,
managed predominantly in the community by GPs. Emerging evidence suggests
lifestyle medicine is a key component in the management of depression. We aimed to
explore GPs’ experiences, attitudes, and challenges to providing lifestyle advice to
patients with depression.
Method: Focus groups were conducted virtually with UK GPs (May-July 2022). A topic
guide facilitated the discussion and included questions on experiences, current
practices, competence, challenges, and service provision. Data were analysed using
template analysis.
Results: ‘Supporting Effective Conversations’; ‘Willing, but Blocked from Establishing
Relational Care’; ‘Working Towards Patient Empowerment’; and ‘Control Over the
Prognosis’ were all elements of how individualised lifestyle advice was key to the
management of depression. Establishing a doctor-patient relationship by building trust and rapport was fundamental to having effective conversations about lifestyle
behaviours. Empowering patients to make positive lifestyle changes required tailoring
advice using a patient-centred approach. Confidence varied across participants,
depending on education, experience, type of patient, and severity of depression.
Conclusions: GPs play an important role in managing depression using lifestyle
medicine and a patient-centred approach. Organisational and educational changes are
necessary to facilitate GPs in providing optimal care to patients with depression.
managed predominantly in the community by GPs. Emerging evidence suggests
lifestyle medicine is a key component in the management of depression. We aimed to
explore GPs’ experiences, attitudes, and challenges to providing lifestyle advice to
patients with depression.
Method: Focus groups were conducted virtually with UK GPs (May-July 2022). A topic
guide facilitated the discussion and included questions on experiences, current
practices, competence, challenges, and service provision. Data were analysed using
template analysis.
Results: ‘Supporting Effective Conversations’; ‘Willing, but Blocked from Establishing
Relational Care’; ‘Working Towards Patient Empowerment’; and ‘Control Over the
Prognosis’ were all elements of how individualised lifestyle advice was key to the
management of depression. Establishing a doctor-patient relationship by building trust and rapport was fundamental to having effective conversations about lifestyle
behaviours. Empowering patients to make positive lifestyle changes required tailoring
advice using a patient-centred approach. Confidence varied across participants,
depending on education, experience, type of patient, and severity of depression.
Conclusions: GPs play an important role in managing depression using lifestyle
medicine and a patient-centred approach. Organisational and educational changes are
necessary to facilitate GPs in providing optimal care to patients with depression.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e0299934 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 3 March |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 11 Mar 2024 |
Keywords
- Depression
- Primary Care
- General Practitioner
- Family Doctor
- Lifestyle Medicine