Abstracts / Posters
Factors affecting engagement and loss to follow up in a weight management programme: The Counterweight Programme
Obes Facts 2(Suppl 2): PO.118: 238 (2009)
The Counterweight Project Team
Background: Patient experience and continuous improvement methodology play a critical role in development of weight management services. We investigated factors associated with compliance, drop-out and success to drive our model of continuous improvement.
Method: Independent qualitative researchers approached and conducted interviews with non-starters (NS) (referred but never attended) (n= 18/53), low-attenders (LA) (attended <2 sessions before lost to follow up) (n = 23/48) and high-attenders (HA) (completed >4 sessions) (n= 23/ 23) from 574 referrals to the Counterweight Programme. Information on patients’ level of social deprivation was gathered using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Results: No statistically significant link between NS, LA, HA and measures of social deprivation were found. Among the most frequent reasons given for NS was lack of information about Counterweight by referring staff (n= 18,100%) and difficulty in contacting clinicians delivering the programme to arrange appointments (n= 7, 39%). 83% (n= 15) expressed an interest in having a new appointment post interview. Social and logistical reasons were among reasons for the drop-out in LA; 87% interviewed were interested in restarting. HA cited family support as important for success and gave similar scores for confidence and understanding (8.2).
Conclusion: Factors that may improve compliance and success with Counterweight are easier contact and logistical aspects of appointments, with more information pre-recruitment. A number of new systems have been implemented through on-going Continuous Improvement.