Table 4.
PCPs attitudes towards patients with overweight and role in weight management
| Question | N agreed (%) |
| Primary care in the treatment of overweight and obesity | |
| Practice nurses have an essential role in identifying and treating overweight and obese patients | 12 (85.7) |
| GPs have an essential role in identifying and treating overweight and obese patients | 10 (71.4) |
| Treating overweight and obese patients is professionally gratifying | 8 (57.2) |
| I feel well prepared to manage overweight and obese patients | 9 (64.3) |
| GPs’ time would be best spent in this area by preventing overweight and obesity in the first place | 2 (14.3) |
| Obesity is a disease | 5 (35.7) |
| Practice nurses’ time would be best spent in this area by preventing overweight and obesity in the first place | 4 (28.6) |
| I do not like treating overweight or obese patients | 0 |
| Treatment for weight loss should be offered only to adults who are obese (not overweight) | 6 (42.8) |
| I do not believe that I can have any effect on patients’ ability to lose weight | 2 (14.3) |
| Overweight and obese patients are usually quite motivated about lifestyle change | 1 (7.1) |
| I would only offer advice regarding weight control when a patient requests it | 2 (14.3) |
| Difficulties of weight loss | |
| It is very difficult for overweight and obese patients to lose weight, no matter what support they are given | 9 (64.3) |
| Only a small percentage of overweight and obese patients can lose weight and maintain this loss | 8 (57.2) |
| GPs’ role is to refer overweight and obese patients to other professionals rather than attempt to treat them themselves | 3 (21.4) |
| Practice nurses’ role is to refer overweight and obese patients to other professionals rather than attempt to treat them themselves | 2 (14.3) |
| Impacts of health professionals’ weight | |
| I feel my own weight affects how my overweight/obese patients view my advice | 11 (78.6) |
| GPs should be role models and maintain normal weight | 11 (78.6) |
| Practice nurses should be role models and maintain normal weight* | 9 (69.2) |
| Attitudes towards overweight patients | |
| Most overweight and obese patients are well aware of the health risks of obesity | 11 (78.6) |
| I do not experience any barriers to treating overweight and obese patients | 4 (28.6) |
| I am reluctant to mention weight as I do not want to make patients feel uncomfortable | 1 (7.1) |
| Weight loss and health | |
| Normal weight is important for health | 14 (100) |
| For overweight and obese patients, even small weight loss can produce health benefits | 14 (100) |
*1 response missing.
GPs, general practitioners; PCP, primary care practitioners.