TY - JOUR
T1 - Youth perspectives on weight-related words used by healthcare professionals. A qualitative study
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Stuij, M.S.
AU - van Maarschalkerweerd, Pomme
AU - Seidell, Jaap
AU - Halberstadt, J.
AU - Dedding, Christine
N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport; Grant VWS: 324043). The funding party had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; nor in the decision to submit the article for publication. We are grateful to the children for their participation in this study. We also like to thank the healthcare professionals who helped us with the recruitment, Sanne Niemer for her efforts during the start of the study, and Maxine de Jonge for translating the quotations into English. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport; Grant VWS: 324043). The funding party had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; nor in the decision to submit the article for publication. We are grateful to the children for their participation in this study. We also like to thank the healthcare professionals who helped us with the recruitment, Sanne Niemer for her efforts during the start of the study, and Maxine de Jonge for translating the quotations into English. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Child: Care, Health and Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Although healthcare professionals often consider body weight a sensitive and difficult topic to discuss with children, a contextualized and comprehensive understanding of youth perspectives on weight-related words used in healthcare has yet to be established. This qualitative study aims to explore perspectives of Dutch children on the terminology healthcare professionals use when discussing weight.METHODS: Fourteen interviews and one focus group discussion were held with children (age 8-16) who were in care because of their weight. A toolkit with customizable interview techniques was used in order to facilitate reflection and tailor the interview to each respondent. A narrative content analysis was conducted.RESULTS: Respondents attached both clear and subtle differences in meanings to (certain) weight-related words. Their perspectives were not unanimous for any single word. Moreover, at times, respondents framed certain words in positive or negative ways, or used a word they disliked to describe themselves. This illustrates that meanings of weight-related words are not fixed, but context and situation specific.CONCLUSION: This study revealed that meanings children assign to weight-related words are shaped by their experiences in the broader social context, especially at school, as well as with (previous) healthcare professionals. It pointed towards the importance of bedside manner, acquaintanceship, and support. Healthcare professionals treating children because of their body weight are advised to invest in a good patient-caregiver relationship, pay attention to children's previous (negative) social weight-related experiences, and reflect critically on their own preconceptions about body weight and the impact these preconceptions might have on their patient-caregiver relationships.
AB - BACKGROUND: Although healthcare professionals often consider body weight a sensitive and difficult topic to discuss with children, a contextualized and comprehensive understanding of youth perspectives on weight-related words used in healthcare has yet to be established. This qualitative study aims to explore perspectives of Dutch children on the terminology healthcare professionals use when discussing weight.METHODS: Fourteen interviews and one focus group discussion were held with children (age 8-16) who were in care because of their weight. A toolkit with customizable interview techniques was used in order to facilitate reflection and tailor the interview to each respondent. A narrative content analysis was conducted.RESULTS: Respondents attached both clear and subtle differences in meanings to (certain) weight-related words. Their perspectives were not unanimous for any single word. Moreover, at times, respondents framed certain words in positive or negative ways, or used a word they disliked to describe themselves. This illustrates that meanings of weight-related words are not fixed, but context and situation specific.CONCLUSION: This study revealed that meanings children assign to weight-related words are shaped by their experiences in the broader social context, especially at school, as well as with (previous) healthcare professionals. It pointed towards the importance of bedside manner, acquaintanceship, and support. Healthcare professionals treating children because of their body weight are advised to invest in a good patient-caregiver relationship, pay attention to children's previous (negative) social weight-related experiences, and reflect critically on their own preconceptions about body weight and the impact these preconceptions might have on their patient-caregiver relationships.
KW - children's perspectives
KW - healthcare communication
KW - obesity
KW - qualitative study
KW - the Netherlands
KW - weight-based terminology
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12760
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12760
M3 - Article
C2 - 32037594
SN - 0305-1862
VL - 46
SP - 369
EP - 380
JO - Child Care Health and Development
JF - Child Care Health and Development
IS - 3
ER -
