The role of nurse support within an Internet-delivered weight management intervention: A qualitative study

Abstract

This qualitative study explored patients’ experiences of nurse support for an Internet-delivered weight management intervention. Eighteen patients who had received either basic or regular nurse support (three or seven contacts, respectively) for the Internet intervention were interviewed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that more regular support for Internet interventions may have the potential to inhibit the development of autonomous motivation for weight loss, which might lead to problems in sustaining losses after support ends. Further research is now needed to confirm whether motivation is influenced by frequency of nurse support in Internet interventions in order to inform the development of optimal support which promotes sustained weight loss.

Keywords:

• weight management
• Internet-delivered
• self-determination theory
• qualitative methods
• social support

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The development and evaluation of the POWeR intervention was independent research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its RfPB Programme [Grant Reference PB-PG-0808-17077].