Family physicians’ views on their role in the management of childhood obesity: a mixed methods study from Turkey

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the family physicians who completed the quantitative questionnaire (n = 180).

Gender: n (%)
Male	96 (53.2)
Female	84 (46.8)
Type of FPs: n (%)
FP specialists	35 (20.0)
General practitioners	145 (80.0)
Mean age ± SD (min-max)	43.0 ± 7.0 (26–63 years)
Experience in general practice	Range

FP, family physician.

Table 2. Family physicians’ opinions about the main person in charge of the childhood obesity management (n = 179)^a.

	n	%
Parents	164	91.6
Primary care physician (FP)	133	74.3
School and the teacher	94	52.5
Paediatrician	51	28.5
Media	47	26.3
Dietitian	17	9.5
Health authority (Ministry of Health, etc.)	15	8.4
The child itself	14	7.8

^aOne FP did not answer. A participant can sign more than one item. Percentages were calculated based on number of participants (n = 179).

FP, family physician.

Table 3. Attitudes and behaviours of the family physicians about childhood obesity management (n = 180)^a.

Opinions	Agree		Disagree		Undecided
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Measuring weight and height for the kids between 0 and 4 years of age is a requirement.	176	98.3	–	–	3	1.7
Measuring weight and height for the kids between 5 and 15 years of age is a requirement.	121	67.6	17	9.5	41	22.9
I can give consultancy to an overweight or obese child and his family.	119	66.1	19	10.6	41	23.3
Consultancy to an overweight or obese child and his family is professionally a satisfaction for me.	117	65.7	21	11.7	40	22.6
I am professionally well prepared to work with children and families from diverse social and cultural backgrounds	101	56.1	22	12.3	56	31.6
It is difficult to understand that a child is overweight or obese just by looking at him.	92	51.7	65	36.5	21	11.8
I am professionally self-reliant to manage children who are overweight or obese	84	47.5	22	12.4	71	40.1
The best role for a GP is to refer overweight and obese children to other professionals rather than attempting to treat them.	84	46.7	75	42.1	19	11.2
Only a small percentage of children who are overweight/obese can reduce their BMI and maintain that loss for at least a year.	32	17.8	102	57.0	44	25.2
I would only encourage weight management when a child or his family request it	19	10.7	140	78.7	19	10.6
Weight measurement should be offered only to obese children.	15	8.4	151	83.9	13	7.7

^aThere are missing data for each item.

Table 4. Barriers reported by the family physicians regarding the management of childhood obesity (n = 180)^a.

	n	%
Lack of time	124	68.9
5–15 years of age groups visits to FHCs are not required	96	53.3
Lack of motivation of the FPs	65	36.1
Limited training/knowledge	55	30.5
Lack of the necessary tools	33	18.3

^aA participant can report more than one barrier. Percentages were calculated based on number of participants (n = 180).

FPs, family physicians; FHCs, family health centres.

Table 5. Qualitative results: summary of opinions of family physicians about barriers for childhood obesity management in primary care (25 in-depth interviews).

Barriers for childhood obesity management in primary care
Barriers related to the healthcare system	Barriers related to parents/ families	Barriers related to physicians
Excess workload of the primary healthcare services in Turkey The ‘treatment’ focus of current primary healthcare system FHCs are not being used for healthy child (5–15 years old) follow-ups Lack of integration between primary and secondary care	Positive attitude of parents towards overweight/obese child Knowledge deficiency of parents about healthy nutrition	Lack of knowledge and training regarding management of CO Lack of motivation

FHCs, family health centres; CO, childhood obesity.