Patient experiences of a bariatric group programme for managing obesity:a qualitative interview study

Abstract

Objectives: People with obesity experience a range of physical and psychological ill-health outcomes. This study examined patients' experiences of a group-based programme for the management of morbid obesity delivered within the UK National Health Service. The focus of the study was on the emerging dynamic of the group and patients' perceptions of its impact on health outcomes. Design: A qualitative interview study was conducted and involved patients recruited from a Tier 3 bariatric service in South West England. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Methods: Twenty patients (12 females) with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 participated in a semi-structured one-to-one interview. Participants had been registered with the bariatric service for at least 6 months. None of the participants had had bariatric surgery. Results: Most participants felt that they had benefited from participating in the group programme and talked about the group as a resource for lifestyle change. Participants' narratives centred on the emergence of a sense of self based upon their participation in the group: establishing psychological connections to other patients, or shared social identity, was regarded as a key mechanism through which the programme's educational material was accessed, and underpinned the experience of social support within the group. Through interaction with other patients, involving the sharing of personal experiences and challenges, participants came to experience their weight 'problem' through a collective lens that they felt empowered them to initiate and sustain individual lifestyle change. Discussion: Bariatric care groups have the potential to support lifestyle change and weight loss and may help address the psychological needs of patients. Nurturing a sense of shared social identity amongst patients with morbid obesity should be a core aim of the care pathway and may provide the foundation for successful translation of dietetic content in group programmes. Statement of contribution: What is already known on this subject? Services for people with obesity who require specialist care are often supported by group-based bariatric programmes. There are no specific guidelines for the organization of bariatric groups beyond the recommendation for lifestyle interventions delivered by a multidisciplinary care team. Research with other health conditions suggests that the psychological connections formed between participants in bariatric programmes may play an important role in structuring programme effectiveness. What does this study add? Establishing psychological connections with other patients underpins bariatric patients' group experience. Shared social identity structures behaviour change in patients on bariatric programmes. Nurturing shared social identity should be a core aim of the bariatric care pathway.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12218
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Psychology
College of Health & Life Sciences
College of Health & Life Sciences > Chronic and Communicable Conditions
Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Tarrant, M., Khan, S. S., Farrow, C. V., Shah, P., Daly, M., & Kos, K. (2016). Patient experiences of a bariatric group programme for managing obesity: a qualitative interview study. British Journal of Health Psychology, Early view., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12218. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords: bariatric care,psychological connections,support,lifestyle,social identity,groups,surgery,Applied Psychology
Publication ISSN: 2044-8287
Last Modified: 11 Mar 2024 08:15
Date Deposited: 03 Nov 2016 08:35
Full Text Link: http://onlineli ... .12218/abstract
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2017-02
Published Online Date: 2016-11-17
Accepted Date: 2016-10-19
Submitted Date: 2016-05-24
Authors: Tarrant, Mark
Khan, Sammyh S.
Farrow, Claire V. (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-3745-6610)
Shah, Pooja
Daly, Mark
Kos, Katarina

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