Abstract
BACKGROUND: Addressing obesity is a public health priority. Nurses have potential to support patients in achieving weight loss goals but nurses with a lower Body Mass Index have been shown to have negative attitudes towards obesity. Additionally, where the patient is perceived as being responsible for their excess weight, a negative attitude is held. It is unclear to what extent negative attitudes influence advice provided to patients.
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the level of advice offered to obese patients by student nurses is associated with (i) the perceived causal factors of obesity and (ii) attitudes towards obesity (iii) body mass index of the nurse.
DESIGN: An experimental design was applied along with two validated questionnaires.
PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 92 student nurses from a university in the Midlands, UK.
METHOD: Participants received one of four patient vignettes; three were affected by obesity, with reference to either a behavioural, social, or medical cause and the fourth was normal weight. Student nurses elected advice they would offer from five staged options (from no active involvement in advising the patient, through to discussing dietary advice). Attitudes towards obesity and social desirability were measured using validated questionnaires.
RESULTS: No association was found between the level of advice offered and either the causal factor of obesity or the student nurses’ attitude towards obesity, or the nurses’ body mass index. Most students endorsed the highest level of advice, a patient centred discussion.
CONCULSION: Findings are promising; advice giving was not associated with perceived cause of obesity, or attitude, but was in line with professional body recommendations. Future endeavours to provide nurses with specific training in this area would be of benefit to health care.
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the level of advice offered to obese patients by student nurses is associated with (i) the perceived causal factors of obesity and (ii) attitudes towards obesity (iii) body mass index of the nurse.
DESIGN: An experimental design was applied along with two validated questionnaires.
PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 92 student nurses from a university in the Midlands, UK.
METHOD: Participants received one of four patient vignettes; three were affected by obesity, with reference to either a behavioural, social, or medical cause and the fourth was normal weight. Student nurses elected advice they would offer from five staged options (from no active involvement in advising the patient, through to discussing dietary advice). Attitudes towards obesity and social desirability were measured using validated questionnaires.
RESULTS: No association was found between the level of advice offered and either the causal factor of obesity or the student nurses’ attitude towards obesity, or the nurses’ body mass index. Most students endorsed the highest level of advice, a patient centred discussion.
CONCULSION: Findings are promising; advice giving was not associated with perceived cause of obesity, or attitude, but was in line with professional body recommendations. Future endeavours to provide nurses with specific training in this area would be of benefit to health care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-37 |
| Journal | Nurse Education Today |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |