ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of weight-loss counseling provided by Dutch primary care practice nurses (PNs) to overweight and obese patients including both PNs’

compliance with the Five A’s Model for behavioral counseling in primary care, and the use of different communication styles. In addition, relationships between PN/patient characteristics

(including Five A’s) and communication styles will be examined. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this observational study, 100 videotaped real-life consultations, collected in 2010/2011, were viewed

using an observational checklist. Selection of consultations was based on PNs’ registration of patient’s complaint. The quality of weight-loss counseling was assessed by the Five A’s Model

assessed the risk and current behavior and advised. However, they rarely assisted in addressing barriers and securing support. For weight or physical activity, most PNs used a motivational

communication style. In discussions of nutrition, they mostly used an informational communication style. Moreover, PNs used a combination of communication styles. PN characteristics,

including their behavior concerning the Five A’s, were stronger related to communication styles than patient characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: PNs reasonably complied with the Five A’s Model.

The quality of PNs’ weight-loss counseling might be increased by routinely providing assistance in addressing barriers and securing support, and routinely reaching agreement with

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our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS FACTORS THAT DETERMINE PATIENTS CONSIDERING MEDICATION FOR THE DISEASE OF OBESITY: AN IMI2 SOPHIA STUDY Article

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Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank Ayla Ortwein for her assistance in the literature study and observation. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Strategic Communication,

Section Communication, Philosophy and Technology-Centre for Integrative Development (CPT-CID), Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, S M E van Dillen & G J Hiddink * NIVEL,

Utrecht, The Netherlands, J Noordman & S van Dulmen * Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands S van Dulmen * Department of

Health Sciences, Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Drammen, Norway S van Dulmen Authors * S M E van Dillen View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * J Noordman View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * S van Dulmen View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * G J Hiddink View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to S M E van Dillen. ETHICS

DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no conflict of interest. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE van Dillen, S., Noordman,

J., van Dulmen, S. _et al._ Quality of weight-loss counseling by Dutch practice nurses in primary care: an observational study. _Eur J Clin Nutr_ 69, 73–78 (2015).

https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.129 Download citation * Received: 20 March 2014 * Revised: 06 May 2014 * Accepted: 26 May 2014 * Published: 02 July 2014 * Issue Date: January 2015 * DOI:

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