General Practitioners’ Experiences of Providing Lifestyle Advice to Patients with Depression: A Qualitative Focus Group Study

Emma Astaire, Laura Jennings, Martina Khundakar, Sergio A. Silverio*, Angela Flynn

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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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.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0299934
Pages (from-to)1-11
JournalPLoS One
Volume19
Issue number3 March
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Mar 2024

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Primary Care
  • General Practitioner
  • Family Doctor
  • Lifestyle Medicine

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