title: Obese patients overestimate physicians' attitudes of respect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether obese patients overestimate or underestimate the level of respect that their physicians hold toward them.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from questionnaires and audio-recordings of visits between primary care physicians and their patients. Using multilevel logistic regression, we evaluated the association between patient BMI and accurate estimation of physician respect. Physician respectfulness was also rated independently by assessing the visit audiotapes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine primary care physicians and 199 of their patients were included in the analysis. The mean patient BMI was 32.8 kg/m2 (SD 8.2). For each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, the odds of overestimating physician respect significantly increased [OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04-1.68, p=0.02]. Few patients underestimated physician respect. There were no differences in ratings of physician respectfulness by independent evaluators of the audiotapes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider our results preliminary. Patients were significantly more likely to overestimate physician respect as BMI increased, which was not accounted for by increased respectful treatment by the physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients who overestimate physician respect, the authenticity of the patient-physician relationship should be questioned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore 21287, USA. kgudzun1@jhu.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gudzune
authors.forename: Mary Margaret
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Huizinga
authors.forename: Mary Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015142:Baltimore; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011287:Prejudice; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013637:Tape Recording; D055815:Young Adult