Nutrition Research
This is where I will share with you all of my research findings.
I am currently enrolled in a Master of Research which will culminate in a 25,000 word thesis, including evidence-informed recommendations, in June 2026.
Abstract
What are the optimal models of care for effective and feasible prevention and management of weight gain among breast cancer survivors, particularly in the Australian primary health care context?
Weight gain following breast cancer treatment is common and often under-addressed, contributing to increased risks of recurrence, chronic disease, and reduced quality of life. Despite this, there is currently no structured or standardised model of care within the Australian healthcare system to support breast cancer survivors with weight management. As a result, many women receive little to no guidance on this issue during or after treatment.
This study explores how weight management is addressed in breast cancer survivorship care from the perspective of general practitioners (GPs), who provide long-term follow-up care within the Australian healthcare system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen GPs from metropolitan, regional and remote locations across Australia. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, with themes subsequently mapped to domains and constructs within the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to examine the multi-level factors influencing implementation of weight prevention and management support in survivorship care.
Preliminary findings indicate that GPs recognise weight management as an important component of survivorship care and view it as part of their professional role. However, several systemic barriers limit effective implementation. Participants described a lack of formal survivorship guidance related to weight management, limited consultation time within routine general practice, and an absence of clear referral pathways to experienced allied health professionals such as dietitians and exercise physiologists. Despite these constraints, GPs identified primary care as a key setting for ongoing monitoring and support, particularly through existing chronic disease management frameworks. Participants also highlighted the need for clearer multidisciplinary models of survivorship care that better integrate oncology, primary care and allied health services.
These findings provide early insight into the current challenges and opportunities for addressing weight management in breast cancer survivorship within Australian primary care. By highlighting GP perspectives, this research contributes to the development of an evidence-informed model of care to better support breast cancer survivors in preventing and managing treatment-related weight gain during and after treatment.
