Routine data from Norfolk care homes, such as information on falls, GP consultations, weights and outcomes after hospital stays were difficult to gather uniformly because each home has its own way of collecting data, and the data sets are difficult to combine.
The aim of this study was to analyse GPs' use of decision making strategies (immediate or gradual), in relation to problem characteristics (somatic and/or psychosocial problem) and the process of consultation (weight given to symptoms and/or person).
Yet, very few consultations address weight management.
Templates were provided to assist reflective documentation following antenatal consultations where weight is discussed.
This study is novel in its attempts to determine why there are so few consultations for weight management when more than 60% of the population is overweight or obese.
For any individual who was not observed for the entire 3-year period due to death or attrition (e.g. transferring out of the practice) we applied a weighting to the observed number of consultations (the weighting was equal to the inverse of the proportion of the 3-year period during which they were observed).
We considered several determinants with regard to the follow-up period as potential confounders (consultation behavior, weight loss, change in level of physical activity and prescription of cardiovascular medication for a specific MetS component).
They were encouraged to self-monitor their eating habits and physical activities, as well as to visit their general practitioner for a consultation and weight control check once every 4 weeks.
OBEMAN® had many of the features HopSCOTCH required (i.e. consultation guide, weight management plan, and tracking of anthropometry); however, following feedback from the VicReN focus group, it was not pursued because it lacked some of the key functionality HopSCOTCH required (i.e. linking with desktop software to fit with GPs' current workflow, web enabled and child focused).
(Participant 14, GP) "I think often it is time because you have a patient that comes, you have ten minute appointments, there is not really much scope, patients are not happy to wait generally in general practice so even if you think you should really mention this, you know it's going to be time consuming, it's not a quick consultation about weight".
