A Qualitative Survey Study in Managing Patient Obesity for Exploring Self Efficacy among Saudi General Practitioners

Abstract

This study aimed at investigate the management of obesity patients for exploring the self-efficacy among Saudi general practitioners in a qualitative survey methodology, by conducting interviews that were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim by a professional transcription service. DE identified data were transferred into NVivo 10 for data organisation and coding. Data were analysed independently by the researchers and coded using social cognitive theory as a guiding framework. Twenty GPs recruited via a snowball sampling strategy to deliver a pilot of an obesity management program (“The Change Program”) participated in semi structured interviews before commencing the pilot. Of the 20 participating GPs (twelve  males and eight female), ages ranged between 33 and 55, and years working in general practice ranged between 5 and 25. The Interviews were face-to-face and were conducted in June and July of 2017. The study concluded that shifting the frame away from weight loss per se and towards these other goals might therefore allow for a more authentic GP-patient interaction and increase the self-efficacy of both GP and patient for healthy lifestyle changes.