title: The attitudes of student nurses towards obese patients: A questionnaire study exploring the association between perceived causal factors and advice giving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nurses acting in primary care roles are central in addressing obesity as a public health priority. Nurses with a lower Body Mass Index have been shown to have negative attitudes towards obesity. Additionally, where the patient is perceived as being responsible for their excess weight, a negative attitude may also be held. The extent to which negative attitudes may influence the advice provided by nurses to obese patients is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present paper sought to examine whether the level of advice offered to obese patients by student nurses is associated with (i) the perceived causal factors of obesity, (ii) attitudes towards obesity and (iii) body mass index of the nurse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 92 student nurses from a university in the Midlands, UK. Participants received one of four patient vignettes; three were affected by obesity, with reference to either a behavioural, social, or medical cause; and the fourth was normal weight. Student nurses elected advice they would offer from five staged options (from no active involvement in advising the patient, through to discussing dietary advice). Attitudes towards obesity and social desirability were measured using validated questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association was found between the level of advice offered and either the causal factor of obesity, the student nurses' attitude towards obesity, or the nurses' Body Mass Index. Most students endorsed the highest level of advice-a patient centred discussion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings show that advice giving by student nurses was not associated with perceived cause of obesity, or attitude, but is in line with the current Nursing and Midwifery Council (2015) recommendations. That is, most students endorsed a patient centred discussion. This suggests that professional training guidelines for the non-judgemental treatment of obese patients are not only being recognised, but implemented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Wolverhampton, Mary Seacole Building, Nursery Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1AD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Wendy.Nicholls@wlv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Wolverhampton, Mary Seacole Building, Nursery Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1AD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: pilsburyl@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pilsbury
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, University of Wolverhampton, Gorway Road, Walsall, WS1 3BD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: marcia2@wlv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, University of Wolverhampton, Gorway Road, Walsall, WS1 3BD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: T.Devonport@wlv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Devonport
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Attitudes; Health priorities; Nursing; Obesity; Students