Patient-practitioner relationships desired by overweight/obese adults

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the characteristics of the patient-practitioner relationship desired by overweight/obese individuals in weight management. The aim was to identify characteristics of the relationship which empower patients to make lifestyle changes.

Methods: Grounded theory was used inductively to build a model of the patient-practitioner relationship based on the perspectives of 21 overweight/obese ¬adults.

Results: Emerging from the match between patient and practitioner characteristics, collaboration was the key process explicitly occurring in the patient-practitioner relationship, and was characterised by two subcategories; perceived power dimensions and openness. Trust emerged implicitly from the collaborative process, being fostered by relational, informational, and credible aspects of the interaction. Patient trust in their practitioner consequently led to empowering outcomes including goal ownership and perceiving the utility of changes.

Conclusion: An appropriate match between patient and practitioner characteristics facilitates collaboration which leads to trust, both of which appear to precede empowering outcomes for patients such as goal ownership and perceiving the utility of changes. Collaboration is an explicit process and precedes the patient trusting their practitioner.

Practice implications: Practitioners should be sensitive to patient preferences for collaboration and the opportunity to develop trust with patients relationally, through information provision, and modelling a healthy lifestyle.