Exploring Patient Perspectives of Body Image Conversations in Primary Care: Understandings, Experiences, and Expectations

Abstract

Primary care physicians (PCPs) and patients identified body image conversations to be difficult but necessary. As first points of contact in the healthcare system, PCPs are ideal candidates for addressing body image concerns. Through latent thematic analysis of 12 interviews, this paper explores patient preferences with body image conversations in primary care. We identified challenges that patients faced in sharing body image concerns, expectations they hold for physicians, and suggested potential areas of future research and ways to improve care.