Contributors to patient engagement in primary health care: perceptions of patients with obesity

BACKGROUND: Patients with obesity are at risk for treatment avoidance and nonadherence. Factors that contribute to engagement in primary health care for patients with obesity are not fully understood. AIM: The purpose of this pilot study was to identify issues associated with engagement in primary health care for patients with obesity. METHOD: Using qualitative methodology, 11 patients with a mean body mass index of 40.8 kg/m(2) registered with a primary health care practice were interviewed. Conventional content analysis was used to identify factors that contribute to engagement in primary health care. RESULTS: Barriers and facilitators to engagement in primary health care were categorized into the following themes: availability of resources, importance of the relationship, meaningful communication, feeling judged, lack of privacy, poor communication and limited provider knowledge about obesity. CONCLUSION: Obesity was identified as a health condition that requires additional considerations for patient engagement in their health care.