Attitude of Nurses Towards Obesity and Caring to Obese Patients and Its Predictors in Northern Iran

Abstract

Background & Aims: Obesity is a global public health problem. The discriminatory behavior of medical staff, including physicians and nurses, towards obese patients can affect their quality of care to these people. This study aims to determine the attitudes of nurses towords obesity and providing care to obese patients its predictors in northern Iran. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 162 nurses working in one of hospitals in Guilan province participated. The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic form, and nurses’ attitudes towards obesity and obese patients scale. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance) in SPSS software, version 16. Multiple linear regression by Backward method was also used to determine the predictors of nurses’ attitudes. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The Mean±SD age of nurses was 34.08±7.9 years. Most of them were female (97.5%). Their mean clinical work experience was 8.65±7.01 years. Regarding attitudes toward obesity and obese patients, a significant difference was observed between nurses in terms of working department (P=0.001), educational level (P=0.042), and type of employment (P=0.004). The results of linear regression analysis showed that the variables of age, educational level, and type of employment in nurses the significant predictors of their attitude. Conclusion: Nurses in northern Iran have a low attitude towards obesity and obese patients. There is a need for nursing managers to reduce the workload of nurses, especially those in special care units, and provide necessary education to nurses about providing care to obese patients.