Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care
Abstract Background Obesity is one of the most common and relevant health problems in need of urgent action in Germany. General practitioners (GPs) are the initial contact and thus one of the most important starting points for the successful treatment of overweight and obesity. The aim of the study...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01239-1 |
| _version_ | 1818119734035480576 |
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| author | Maria Schwenke Melanie Luppa Alexander Pabst Franziska D. Welzel Margrit Löbner Claudia Luck-Sikorski Anette Kersting Matthias Blüher Steffi G. Riedel-Heller |
| author_facet | Maria Schwenke Melanie Luppa Alexander Pabst Franziska D. Welzel Margrit Löbner Claudia Luck-Sikorski Anette Kersting Matthias Blüher Steffi G. Riedel-Heller |
| author_sort | Maria Schwenke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Obesity is one of the most common and relevant health problems in need of urgent action in Germany. General practitioners (GPs) are the initial contact and thus one of the most important starting points for the successful treatment of overweight and obesity. The aim of the study was to assess the treatment practice and attitudes towards patients with obesity in primary health care in Germany. Methods Analyses were based on baseline data of the INTERACT trial of 47 GPs in central Germany. Stigmatizing attitudes were identified using the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS). In addition, questionnaires including sociodemographic information, attribution of causes of obesity, referral behavior and clinical activities were completed. Statistical investigations include descriptive analysis, principal component analysis, inference statistics and linear regression models. Results GPs rated the quality of medical care for patients with obesity in Germany as below average. The FPS score revealed a value of 3.70, showing that GPs’ attitudes towards patients with obesity are stigmatizing. Younger GP age, male gender and a lower number of referrals to specialists were associated with higher levels of stigmatizing attitudes. Conclusion Weight-related stigmatization has an impact on medical treatment. Obesity management guides would help to increase knowledge and reduce weight-related stigmatization in primary care, thereby improving medical care for obese and overweight patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:14:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e6f12ec0a0f43a5ad418e501539597c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:14:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e6f12ec0a0f43a5ad418e501539597c2022-12-22T01:19:50ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962020-08-012111810.1186/s12875-020-01239-1Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary careMaria Schwenke0Melanie Luppa1Alexander Pabst2Franziska D. Welzel3Margrit Löbner4Claudia Luck-Sikorski5Anette Kersting6Matthias Blüher7Steffi G. Riedel-Heller8Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigInstitute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigInstitute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigInstitute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigInstitute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigIntegrated Research and Treatment Centre (IFB) Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterClinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, University of LeipzigIntegrated Research and Treatment Centre (IFB) Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical CenterInstitute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigAbstract Background Obesity is one of the most common and relevant health problems in need of urgent action in Germany. General practitioners (GPs) are the initial contact and thus one of the most important starting points for the successful treatment of overweight and obesity. The aim of the study was to assess the treatment practice and attitudes towards patients with obesity in primary health care in Germany. Methods Analyses were based on baseline data of the INTERACT trial of 47 GPs in central Germany. Stigmatizing attitudes were identified using the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS). In addition, questionnaires including sociodemographic information, attribution of causes of obesity, referral behavior and clinical activities were completed. Statistical investigations include descriptive analysis, principal component analysis, inference statistics and linear regression models. Results GPs rated the quality of medical care for patients with obesity in Germany as below average. The FPS score revealed a value of 3.70, showing that GPs’ attitudes towards patients with obesity are stigmatizing. Younger GP age, male gender and a lower number of referrals to specialists were associated with higher levels of stigmatizing attitudes. Conclusion Weight-related stigmatization has an impact on medical treatment. Obesity management guides would help to increase knowledge and reduce weight-related stigmatization in primary care, thereby improving medical care for obese and overweight patients.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01239-1ObesityOverweightPrimary careFamily practiceStigmatization |
| spellingShingle | Maria Schwenke Melanie Luppa Alexander Pabst Franziska D. Welzel Margrit Löbner Claudia Luck-Sikorski Anette Kersting Matthias Blüher Steffi G. Riedel-Heller Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care BMC Family Practice Obesity Overweight Primary care Family practice Stigmatization |
| title | Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care |
| title_full | Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care |
| title_short | Attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care |
| title_sort | attitudes and treatment practice of general practitioners towards patients with obesity in primary care |
| topic | Obesity Overweight Primary care Family practice Stigmatization |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01239-1 |
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