Nancy Thompson1, Elizabeth L Adams2, Nancy Tkacz Browne3, Melanie K Bean4. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. Electronic address: nancy.thompson@vcuhealth.org. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. Electronic address: elizabeth.adams@vcuhealth.org. 3. Northern Light Health, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, WOW Pediatric & Adolescent Weight & Cardiometabolic Clinic, Bangor, ME, USA. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. Electronic address: melanie.bean@vcuhealth.org.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Weight bias towards individuals with obesity exists among medical professionals; yet, there is less evidence of the extent to which weight biases exist in different types of nursing professions. This study aimed to describe pediatric surgery and school nurses' weight biases towards children with obesity and examine factors associated with weight biases. DESIGN AND METHODS: Pediatric surgery (n = 108) and school nurses (n = 177) completed a single online survey that assessed their attitudes towards weight regarding children with obesity. Responses were categorized as % agreement (responded "agree" or "strongly agree" to a given statement). Nurses also reported % time spent working with children who had obesity. RESULTS: Almost all nurses (>93%) agreed it was important to treat patients with obesity with compassion and respect. However, many nurses endorsed statements stating that patients with obesity are often non-compliant with treatment recommendations (47%) and can be difficult to deal with (35%). Only about half of school nurses (53%) and surgical nurses (56%) felt professionally prepared to effectively treat patients with obesity. Nurses commonly reported hearing/witnessing other professionals in their field make negative comments (69%) or convey negative stereotypes (55%) about patients with obesity. School nurses who spent a greater % of time working with children with overweight had more positive weight attitudes (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Negative attitudes towards patients with obesity were relatively prevalent in this population of pediatric surgery and school nurses. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: There is a need for more educational opportunities, professional trainings, and policy initiatives to reduce weight bias among nurses.
PURPOSE: Weight bias towards individuals with obesity exists among medical professionals; yet, there is less evidence of the extent to which weight biases exist in different types of nursing professions. This study aimed to describe pediatric surgery and school nurses' weight biases towards children with obesity and examine factors associated with weight biases. DESIGN AND METHODS: Pediatric surgery (n = 108) and school nurses (n = 177) completed a single online survey that assessed their attitudes towards weight regarding children with obesity. Responses were categorized as % agreement (responded "agree" or "strongly agree" to a given statement). Nurses also reported % time spent working with children who had obesity. RESULTS: Almost all nurses (>93%) agreed it was important to treat patients with obesity with compassion and respect. However, many nurses endorsed statements stating that patients with obesity are often non-compliant with treatment recommendations (47%) and can be difficult to deal with (35%). Only about half of school nurses (53%) and surgical nurses (56%) felt professionally prepared to effectively treat patients with obesity. Nurses commonly reported hearing/witnessing other professionals in their field make negative comments (69%) or convey negative stereotypes (55%) about patients with obesity. School nurses who spent a greater % of time working with children with overweight had more positive weight attitudes (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Negative attitudes towards patients with obesity were relatively prevalent in this population of pediatric surgery and school nurses. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: There is a need for more educational opportunities, professional trainings, and policy initiatives to reduce weight bias among nurses.
Authors: A S Alberga; B J Pickering; K Alix Hayden; G D C Ball; A Edwards; S Jelinski; S Nutter; S Oddie; A M Sharma; S Russell-Mayhew Journal: Clin Obes Date: 2016-06
Authors: Sean M Phelan; Rebecca M Puhl; Sara E Burke; Rachel Hardeman; John F Dovidio; David B Nelson; Julia Przedworski; Diana J Burgess; Sylvia Perry; Mark W Yeazel; Michelle van Ryn Journal: Med Educ Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 6.251