Qualitative study on the key elements of obesity counseling in Korean Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: Weight counseling is an inevitable process for patients with obesity who intend to lose weight; however, the contents of real-world counseling practices remain uncertain in Korean medicine (KM) practice. This study aimed to explore the structure and constituents of obesity counseling in KM.Methods: Qualitative methods were used to explore the structure of weight counseling and clinicians' approaches to weight counseling, particularly the advice and main constituents of weight counseling in KM. Nine KM clinicians (4 women, 5 men) from nine clinics completed face-to-face, individual and semi-structured interviews from September 2019 to February 2020 in Seoul, Daejeon, Cheonan, Seongnam, Asan, and Hwaseoug. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and categorized based on their constituents.Results: During weight loss counseling, the six principal constituents of KM identified were: planning with patients, motivation, correcting misinformation on weight loss, dietary and exercise advice, medication guidance, and customized guides for each type.Conclusion: Clinicians with in-depth knowledge about obesity prescribed personalized guidance for exercise, diet, and medication through an integrative approach. The study results provide an in-depth understanding of weight counseling in KM. These six constituents could guide the counseling provided by clinicians in obesity care.