Online Education & Resources

This module sets the scene to explore the multitude of factors to be considered when discussing weight, the most important of which is a person-centred approach, which can help you tailor conversations, education and treatments to the patient’s individual circumstances.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to: 
– Determine your potential for weight bias
– Define weight stigma
– Recall treatment approaches available to assist with weight loss
– Identify examples of how to ask, assess, advise, agree and arrange support for a person with higher weight
– Describe some of the drivers of obesity
– Describe the importance of a tailored approach to support a person achieve their weight and health goals.

You should allow approximately one hour to complete this module. This module has been allocated 1 CPD hour in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD program.

This module explains how the language used in conversations about weight can impact on an individual to help or hinder their approach. It also explores the issue of weight stigma in detail and outlines the challenging situations that you may encounter in general practice.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to: 
– Outline the importance of initiating conversations about weight with patients living with overweight or obesity
– Identify common barriers to initiating patient conversations about weight
– Recount patient experiences with discussing weight management and the positive or negative impacts on the individual
– Describe the meaning of the terms ‘person-centred care’ and ‘shared decision making’, and identify the benefits of those approaches
– Identify ways to adopt person-centred care for the treatment and management of overweight and obesity
– Describe the relationship between weight stigma and poor health outcomes 
– Identify and implement language that minimises weight-stigma
– Identify resources which outline non-judgmental language between healthcare professionals and patients who are managing their weight.

You should allow approximately one hour to complete this module. This module has been allocated 1 CPD hour in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD program.

This module discusses strategies that have been used for weight loss, together with strategies that can be used to support an individual to improve their physical, emotional and mental health. It also covers the pros and cons and important considerations for selecting various strategies.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
– Identify the broad categories that weight loss strategies can fall in to
– Identify the priority considerations for each category of weight loss strategy
– Describe why there is ‘no one right strategy’ for weight loss
– Identify when additional expertise can be of assistance to provide specialised and timely support
– Describe why intervention is best tailored to an individual.

You should allow approximately one hour to complete this module. This module has been allocated 1 CPD hour in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD program.

This module explains how to support a patient to adopt and maintain health behaviour change that incorporates person-centred action planning.
 
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
– Recall the steps involved in developing SMART-ER goals with a client/patient focus
– Demonstrate an understanding of person-centred goal setting
– Identify situations when creating a SMART Action Plan with a person can be most helpful to support their efforts
– Describe how coping plans can be used to discuss potential barriers to behaviour change.

You should allow approximately one hour to complete this module. This module has been allocated 1 CPD hour in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD program.

This module covers easy-to-adopt counselling techniques that can help to activate a person to make the health behaviour changes necessary for weight loss/maintenance.
 
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
– Identify drivers associated with successful behaviour change and maintenance of health behaviours in the longer term
– Describe the 5 step framework that ensures the support strategies are tailored to the individual
– Identify personal or professional barriers health professionals can experience when considering raising the topic of weight with patients
– Identify a range of counselling techniques that can be adopted throughout the consultation to support the patient to commit to making health behaviour change, and to maintaining those behaviours over time.

You should allow approximately one hour to complete this module. This module has been allocated 1 CPD hour in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD program.

This module pulls together the learnings from the previous modules with four practice scenarios/case studies to help you put into action the techniques discussed.
 
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
– Apply the learnings from this package (Modules 1-5) in practice scenarios
– Identify opportunities to initiate and engage in person-centred discussions in practice
– Initiate conversations about weight management without bias, judgement, or blame
– Problem solve issues commonly seen in general practice.

You should allow approximately one hour to complete this module. This module has been allocated 1 CPD hour in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD program.