‘Dealing’ with complexity: construction and analysis of a card based communication tool for patients with obesity

Clinical communication tools have been used as aids in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes and cancer but not obesity. The objective of this project was to create and test a card based communication tool for use between patients with obesity and health care practitioners. A total of 64 cards were developed based on summaries of the complex set of factors associated with obesity and various survey tools. Subjects participated in either semi-structured interviews or a focus group where they sorted through the deck and selected statements they identified with, followed by a recorded discussion of the activity. Age was negatively associated with the number of cards selected. Qualitative analysis revealed several patterns in participant preference for using the tool (e.g. communication with a healthcare practitioner or monitoring progress). These results will aid in refining the tool and provide some practical information to healthcare practitioners on communication around obesity.