Influence of registered nurses' attitudes toward bariatric patients on educational programming effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Care
• Obesity Management

Background:

• Registered nurses (RNs) play a crucial role in patient care, including for individuals with obesity.
• Understanding RNs' attitudes is essential for effective healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
• Previous research has explored healthcare professionals' perceptions of patients with obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe registered nurses' attitudes toward obese adult patients.
• To utilize the Attitudes Toward Obese Adult Patients Instrument for assessment.
• To identify potential factors influencing these attitudes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 119 full-time RNs.
• Participants were employed in diverse healthcare settings: medical center, acute rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facility.
• Data collected using the Attitudes Toward Obese Adult Patients Instrument.

Main Results:

• RNs demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward obese adults.
• Concerns were identified regarding personal and patient safety.
• RNs acknowledged the complex care needs and increased workload associated with bariatric patients.
• Attitudinal differences were observed between RNs in medical centers and acute rehabilitation settings, potentially linked to workload and length of stay.

Conclusions:

• RN attitudes and concerns regarding obese patients should be assessed and addressed.
• Improving bariatric educational programming effectiveness may be achieved by incorporating these findings.
• Addressing RNs' perspectives can enhance the quality of care for bariatric patients.