A cross-sectional study of student pharmacists' attitudes and self-awareness towards obesity and weight

Neutral attitudes towards people with obesity is a necessity among student pharmacists entering the workforce and caring for this patient population. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perception towards people with obesity among student pharmacists.

A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was sent to 237 student pharmacists. The questionnaire consisted of four demographic questions, the 14-item Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), and the 20-item Attitudes Towards Obese Persons Scale (ATOPS). Statistical analysis was completed to determine any differences between gender, age, and current status in pharmacy school.

Eighty-four student pharmacists completed the questionnaire (35.4% response rate). Most participants were female (84.5%) and > 25 years of age (61.9%). Scores indicated an average level of fat phobia with no difference between males and females (mean score 2.8 ± 0.23 and 2.8 ± 0.29, respectively; P = .92). For attitude, the mean scores were - 0.93 ± 0.42 for males and - 0.75 ± 0.59 for females, indicating a neutral attitude towards obesity and no difference between groups (P = .35). There was no difference in age (younger vs. ≥ 25 years of age) in the FPS (P = .06) or ATOPS (P = .36). There was no difference in mean scores of FPS and ATOPS based on current year in pharmacy school (P = .69 and P = .97, respectively).

Student pharmacists had an average level of fat phobia and neutral attitude towards people with obesity regardless of gender, age, and year in pharmacy school.