Attitudes of health care professionals towards female obese patients

TY - JOUR

T1 - Attitudes of health care professionals towards female obese patients

AU - Sikorski, Claudia

AU - Luppa, Melanie

AU - Glaesmer, Heide

AU - Brähler, Elmar

AU - König, Hans-Helmut

AU - Riedel-Heller, Steffi G

N1 - © 2013 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

PY - 2013/1/1

Y1 - 2013/1/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The health care setting has been reported to be one main source of weight stigma repeatedly; however, studies comparing different professions have been lacking.METHODS: 682 health care professionals (HCP) of a large German university hospital were asked to fill out a questionnaire on stigmatizing attitudes, perceived causes of obesity, and work-related impact of obesity. Stigmatizing attitudes were assessed on the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) based on a vignette describing a female obese patient.RESULTS: Only 25% graded current health care of obese patients to be 'good' or 'very good'. 63% of all HCPs 'somewhat' or 'strongly' agreed that it was often difficult to get the resources needed in order to care for obese patients. The mean FPS score was comparable to that in the general public (M = 3.59), while nursing staff showed slightly more positive attitudes compared to physicians and therapists. Higher age, higher BMI, and ascribing personal responsibility for obesity to the individual were associated with a higher level of stigmatizing attitudes. The nursing staff agreed on obesity as an illness to a greater extent while physicians attributed obesity to the individual.CONCLUSIONS: In summary, by making complex models on the causes of obesity known among health care professionals, stigmatizing attitudes might be reduced. Ongoing further education for health care professionals ought to be part of anti-stigma campaigns in the medical field.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The health care setting has been reported to be one main source of weight stigma repeatedly; however, studies comparing different professions have been lacking.METHODS: 682 health care professionals (HCP) of a large German university hospital were asked to fill out a questionnaire on stigmatizing attitudes, perceived causes of obesity, and work-related impact of obesity. Stigmatizing attitudes were assessed on the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) based on a vignette describing a female obese patient.RESULTS: Only 25% graded current health care of obese patients to be 'good' or 'very good'. 63% of all HCPs 'somewhat' or 'strongly' agreed that it was often difficult to get the resources needed in order to care for obese patients. The mean FPS score was comparable to that in the general public (M = 3.59), while nursing staff showed slightly more positive attitudes compared to physicians and therapists. Higher age, higher BMI, and ascribing personal responsibility for obesity to the individual were associated with a higher level of stigmatizing attitudes. The nursing staff agreed on obesity as an illness to a greater extent while physicians attributed obesity to the individual.CONCLUSIONS: In summary, by making complex models on the causes of obesity known among health care professionals, stigmatizing attitudes might be reduced. Ongoing further education for health care professionals ought to be part of anti-stigma campaigns in the medical field.

U2 - 10.1159/000356692

DO - 10.1159/000356692

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 24296724

VL - 6

SP - 512

EP - 522

JO - Obesity facts

JF - Obesity facts

SN - 1662-4025

IS - 6

ER -