Usability and acceptability of weight-talk tool: A think-aloud study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Usability and acceptability of a nurse-led weight talk tool: A think-aloud study at inpatient adult secure mental health unit.
IRAS ID
334487
Contact name
Novia (Kwan-nga) Mak
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
SPON,
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in secure mental health units is 80%, compared to the general population's rate of 60% (Johnson et al., 2018). The etiology of obesity among service users in secure settings is complex, with interlinked factors extending beyond eating habits, physical activity levels, and the effects of pharmacological treatment. Developing a systems approach to promote healthier lifestyles that take into account these complexities and the needs of service users can help them achieve and maintain a healthy weight during their stay in secure settings (Public Health England, 2021).
Nursing staff play an essential role in multidisciplinary, team-based care. They collaborate with other professionals to coordinate service user-centered care by identifying, assessing, and directing brief interventions and follow-up for individuals at risk of overweight and obesity (Attala et al., 2022). Their prolonged engagement with service users over time and their capacity to identify and support individuals at risk who are ready for change indicate significant potential for nurse-led interventions to initiate weight conversations, thereby making every contact count (MECC) and integrating physical health care into mental health care (NHS England, 2016).
This think-aloud study aims to evaluate the usability and acceptability of a nurse-led weight talk tool, which was developed in this research project in previous phases, including systematic reviews and qualitative interviews with service users and nursing staff at the same secure unit. This think-aloud study will ask a pair of stakeholders, consisting of one nursing staff and one service user, to think aloud as they use the nurse-led weight talk tool to communicate about weight. This helps assess the tool’s acceptability and effectiveness in this specific context, where addressing weight-related concerns is crucial in secure settings.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0937
Date of REC Opinion
1 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion