Adolescents' involvement in decision-making for pediatric weight management: A multi-centre, qualitative study on perspectives of adolescents and health care providers

Objective: To explore adolescents' and health care providers' (HCPs) perspectives on adolescents' involvement in decision-making within multidisciplinary clinical care for pediatric weight management.

Methods: In this multi-centre, qualitative description study, we purposefully recruited 13-17-year-olds with overweight or obesity and HCPs from two pediatric weight management clinics in Edmonton and Ottawa, Canada. Participants completed one-on-one, in-person, semi-structured interviews (adolescents) or focus groups (HCPs), which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and managed using NVivo 11. Data were analyzed by two independent researchers using inductive thematic analysis and the congruent methodological approach for group interactions.

Results: A total of 19 adolescents and 16 HCPs participated. Three themes were identified in relation to adolescents' decision-making for weight management, including (i) conditions for adolescent involvement, (ii) preferences for adolescent involvement, and (iii) extent of parental involvement.

Conclusions: Although adolescents and HCPs positively valued adolescents' involvement in making decisions regarding their weight and health, the extent to which adolescents wished to be involved in the decision-making process varied between individuals and families.

Practice implications: HCPs are encouraged to include adolescents and families in their health services delivery, including consulting individually with adolescents and tailoring care to their expectations regarding decision-making.