Perceptions and attitudes toward obesity care among nursing professionals.

BACKGROUND: The understanding of obesity is evolving from a perceived lifestyle-related condition to a chronic, biologically driven disease. Perception of obesity as a disease among health care professionals is important for effective evidence-based obesity care. Nurses have the most sustained patient contact and play an important role in obesity prevention and management, yet their role in this context remains underexplored. We therefore assessed the perceptions and attitudes towards obesity and obesity care in a Slovenian nursing care cohort. METHODS: Non-interventional, descriptive, cross-sectional study collecting data via an online survey system was distributed to nationwide membership of the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia via their digital communication channels. The online questionnaire was active for three months. Data was integrated with previously obtained responses from physicians, to enable cross-professional comparison. RESULTS: The majority of respondents agreed that obesity is a disease (82.7%), that is equally important as other chronic diseases (86.9%). Most feel uncomfortable talking about obesity (54.8%) and assume patients fully responsible for their weight (58.1%), which correlates to a lower level in nursing care education. Those with higher nursing care education reported more positive professional attitudes toward obesity (p < 0.001). A strong misalignment between professional/personal standpoint was confirmed (p < 0.001), however, personal attitude was a strong positive predictor of professional attitude (p < 0.001). Female respondents showed more positive attitudes than males (p = 0.002). Participants within family medicine model practice (registered nurses with special knowledge in chronic diseases) have the least problems addressing obesity (25%). CONCLUSIONS: The concept of obesity being a disease is not fully adopted in nursing care respondents and a strong misalignment between the professional/personal standpoint exists. Personal attitude and education level were positive predictors of professional attitude towards obesity. Female respondents showed more positive attitudes. These findings highlight the importance of educational interventions aimed not only at increasing professional knowledge but also at addressing personal obesity-related attitudes among nursing professionals.