Oral Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

Integrating lived experience into service model of care planning for severe and complex obesity in Western Australia (128459)

Catrina McStay 1 , Clare Mullen 2 , Jacquie Garton-Smith 3 4 , Mark Mellor 5 , Lucy Butcher 1 6 , Clare Whitton 1 7 , Claire E Pulker 1 7 8
  1. Population Health, East Metropolitan Health Services, Perth, WA, Australia
  2. Health Consumers Council WA, Perth, WA, Australia
  3. GP Liaison, East Metropolitan Health Services, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. Western Australian Department of Health, Perth, WA, Australia
  5. RACGP Obesity Specific Interest Group, Perth, WA, Australia
  6. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
  7. School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
  8. Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

Drivers of obesity are systemic and varied, with most outside of people’s control (1). In 2022, a third of Australian adults were living with obesity; and between 2011-12 and 2022, class 3 obesity prevalence increased by 48% (2, 3). Despite being a treatable condition, people experiencing the greatest burden of obesity lack access to low or no-cost specialist medical services in Western Australia (WA) (1). This study aims to describe the East Metropolitan Health Service project to develop an evidence-based patient-centred service model of care for adults with severe and complex obesity (service model). To inform the draft service model, the literature, obesity services guidelines, and existing obesity services were reviewed. The project design incorporated partnership principles, and stakeholders with lived experience of obesity informed service model development. Aboriginal health consumers’ views were integrated via a separate mechanism (not reported here). We identified key health consumer stakeholders and created a project process to enable them to provide direct input to the service model development. Health consumer views were contributed via: 1) including a Health Consumers Council WA (HCCWA) representative on the service model reference group; 2) a HCCWA-led health consumer workshop; 3) a HCCWA presentation and participation in the service model clinician workshop. Consumer feedback strengthened the service model, including by adding a peer-navigator role, improving referral and discharge processes, and prioritising patient-centred, trauma-informed care with a focus on overall patient health and wellbeing. Integrating partnership principles enabled the consumer voice to be incorporated making the service model fit-for-purpose.

 

  1. Atlantis E, et al. Clinical obesity services in public hospitals in Australia: a position statement based on expert consensus. Clinical obesity. 2018;8(3):203-10.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Health conditions and risks. National Health Survey 2022.
  3. The Obesity Collective. Obesity in Australia: A time for action. 2024.