ATTAIN: Access to weight management in primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The ATTAIN study: Access To weighT mAnagement IN primary Care: a case study
IRAS ID
164050
Contact name
David N. Blane
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges in Scotland today. Primary care has a key role to play in the identification and referral of individuals with obesity, particularly those with weight-related health conditions such as diabetes, who may benefit from specialist weight management. However, at present there is considerable variation in GP referrals into such services, with only a small fraction of people who may benefit from referral actually being referred. In addition, many people who are referred to weight management services either do not attend or drop out after one or two sessions. There are many possible explanations for these observations, including factors relating to the patient, the referring GP (or practice nurse), and the service itself.
This study seeks to understand the barriers and facilitators to GP referral to a specialist weight management service, using the Glasgow & Clyde Weight Management Service (GCWMS) as a case study. It is anticipated that the knowledge generated will inform future interventions to improve weight management.
The study involves three stages. Stage 1 will examine GP referral rates to weight management since 2012 to develop a 3x3 sampling frame for practices based on low-, medium- and high-referral rate and low-, medium- and high-deprivation status.
Stage 2 will involve interviews (or focus groups) with approximately 20 patients who have been referred to GWMS, who have given consent to be contacted by GCWMS for further research. The patients will be asked about their experience of the referral process in interviews expected to take around 1 hour.
Stage 3 will involve interviews (or focus groups) with GPs and/or practice nurses from the referring practices of patients in stage two. Practitioners will also be asked about their experience of weight management, including referral to GCWMS. GPs from practices that have never referred will also be contacted.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0057
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion