Nurses & Obesity Advice
Weight Loss Study Aim
To examine practice nurses' beliefs about obesity and their current practices
and the role of the weight management context and their own BMI on these
factors. DESIGN: Cross sectional questionnaire.
Weight Loss Study Subjects
Questionnaires concerning beliefs about obesity and current practices
were completed by 586 practice nurses.
Weight Loss Study Results
The subjects rated lifestyle as the main cause and cardiovascular problems
as the main consequences of obesity, regarded weight loss as beneficial
and reported high confidence in their ability to give advice to obese
patients. However, their expectations of patient compliance and actual
weight loss were low indicating that practice nurses rate their advice
giving skills as independent to the outcome of this advice. Further, failed
weight loss was explained in terms of patient and not professional factors.
In addition, the results indicated variability in their beliefs and behaviour
according to the location of this advice and the practice nurse's own
BMI. In particular, practice nurses who run weight loss clinics reported
giving weight loss advice more frequently, spending longer counselling
obese patients, reported greater confidence in giving weight loss advice
and more optimism about outcomes. Further, those with low BMIs rated obesity
as more preventable, reported being less likely to advise patients to
use a calorie controlled diet and more likely to suggest eating less in
general.
Weight Loss Study Conclusions
Education programmes for practice nurses should not only include skills
training but emphasise both the factors involved in advice giving and
self appraisal. Such appraisal should include a role for both the practice
nurse's and the patient's behaviour to minimise the 'operation was a success
but the patient died' approach to obesity management.
Source: Hoppe R, Ogden J. Department of
General Practice, UMDS, London. 1997
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