The attitudes of student nurses towards obese patients: A questionnaire study exploring the association between perceived causal factors and advice giving

• Participant student nurses advise obese patients following professional guidelines.
• Advice giving to obese patients is not associated with perceived cause of obesity.
• Attitudes towards individuals affected by obesity are not related to advice provided.

SummaryBackgroundNurses acting in primary care roles are central in addressing obesity as a public health priority. 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 may also be held. The extent to which negative attitudes may influence the advice provided by nurses to obese patients is unknown.ObjectivesThe present paper sought to examine whether the level of advice offered to obese patients by student nurses is associated with (i) the perceived causal factors of obesity, (ii) attitudes towards obesity and (iii) body mass index of the nurse.MethodParticipants were 92 student nurses from a university in the Midlands, UK. 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.ResultsNo association was found between the level of advice offered and either the causal factor of obesity, the student nurses' attitude towards obesity, or the nurses' Body Mass Index. Most students endorsed the highest level of advice—a patient centred discussion.ConclusionFindings show that advice giving by student nurses was not associated with perceived cause of obesity, or attitude, but is in line with the current Nursing and Midwifery Council (2015) recommendations. That is, most students endorsed a patient centred discussion. This suggests that professional training guidelines for the non-judgemental treatment of obese patients are not only being recognised, but implemented.