Youth perspectives on weight-related words used by healthcare professionals: A qualitative study. 2020

Mirjam Stuij, and Pomme E A van Maarschalkerweerd, and Jaap C Seidell, and Jutka Halberstadt, and Christine Dedding
Department of Medical Humanities, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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. 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. 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. 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.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007802 Language A verbal or nonverbal means of communicating ideas or feelings. Dialect,Dialects,Languages
D008297 Male Males
D009426 Netherlands Country located in EUROPE. It is bordered by the NORTH SEA, BELGIUM, and GERMANY. Constituent areas are Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, formerly included in the NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Holland,Kingdom of the Netherlands
D010353 Patient Education as Topic The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs. Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D011369 Professional-Patient Relations Interactions between health personnel and patients. Contacting Clients,Pharmacist-Patient Relations,Professional Patient Relationship,Client, Contacting,Clients, Contacting,Contacting Client,Pharmacist Patient Relations,Pharmacist-Patient Relation,Professional Patient Relations,Professional Patient Relationships,Professional-Patient Relation,Relation, Pharmacist-Patient,Relation, Professional-Patient,Relations, Pharmacist-Patient,Relations, Professional-Patient,Relationship, Professional Patient,Relationships, Professional Patient
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

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