A qualitative exploration of service users' experiences of weight management conversations in a mental health setting

Kemp, Emma, Haighton, Catherine, Faulkner, Sally, McBride, Kate, Aquino, Maria Raisa Jessica, Wilson, Rob ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0469-1884, Vasiljevic, Milica, Robson, Craig, Loraine, Mish, Harland, Jill and Rodrigues, Angela M (2025) A qualitative exploration of service users' experiences of weight management conversations in a mental health setting. PEC Innovation, 6. 100389. ISSN 2772-6282

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Document DOI: https://doi.org/10.23634/MMU.00639256.03268552
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecinn.2025.100389

Abstract

Objective Healthcare professionals often use opportunistic weight management conversations, aligned with the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) approach, to provide motivational support to service users. While research supports this practice from the professionals' perspective, the views of service users on these interactions remain understudied. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of service users with serious mental illness regarding weight management conversations with healthcare professionals. Methods Thirteen service users with serious mental illness (Nine inpatient, four community-based) participated in semi-structured 1–1 interviews exploring weight management support experiences. Transcript data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Five key themes were developed: service users' experience of weight management conversations, developing therapeutic relationships, support for physical activity and weight management, deliverer characteristic preferences, and user descriptions of MECC. Conclusions Service users reported a lack of information about medication-related weight gain and suggested further staff training to improve therapeutic relationships and weight management support for service users with serious mental illness. Innovation This study uniquely explores service users' perspectives on weight management conversations within mental health care, applying MECC in a novel context. It highlights the perspective of individuals with serious mental illness on weight-related issues, challenging existing practices, and proposing strategies for integrating physical health support in mental health settings.

Item Type:	Article (Article)
Peer-reviewed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2025 12:29
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Additional Information:	This is an open access article which first appeared in PEC Innovation. The author’s version of the work is posted here under the terms of the NIHR open access policy, whereby for the purpose of open access, the author(s) has applied a Creative Commons attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising. The definitive version was published in PEC Innovation on 22 March 2025, DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2025.100389.
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Data Access Statement:	The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
URI:	https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/639256
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecinn.2025.100389
ISSN	2772-6282