Primary care physicians′ knowledge and perceived barriers in the management of overweight and obesity

Abstract

Objectives:To determine the level of knowledge of primary health care physicians and the barriers perceived in the management of overweight and obesity in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.Setting:Primary health care centers in Dammam and Al-Khobar cities, Saudi Arabia.Design:A cross-sectional study.Materials and Methods:One hundred and forty-nine physicians were surveyed. Data were collected with a specially made anonymous, self-administrated, structured questionnaire with a Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.85, and content validity by five experts was used to measure the knowledge and barriers from several different aspects of care provided by primary health care centers to the overweight and obese.Results:One hundred and thirty (87%) physicians responded. More than two-thirds of the respondents considered themselves as key players in the management of obesity. However, only one-third believed that they were well prepared to treat obesity. Eighty-three per cent of the respondents had a negative attitude toward the concept of overweight and obesity. It was noted that 76.9% of physicians advised patients to control their weight with sport and exercise together with low calorie diet. Sixty percent of the respondents used body mass index to diagnose obesity. Seventy-two percent of respondents did not use weight reduction medications to treat obesity. Lack of training, poor administrative support, and time constraints were identified as barriers in managing overweight and obesity.Conclusion:Respondents were aware of the magnitude of overweight and obesity as a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, and they were also aware of the correct definition of overweight and obesity, as well as its effect in increasing mortality. Better training is required to improve some areas of awareness and management of the conditions.

Childhood and adolescent obesity: Primary Health Care Physicians’ perspectives from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Our findings are consistent with studies reporting lack of patients’ motivation, parental involvement and support services 13. Other known important barriers were related to time constraints, poor administrative support, and lack of sub-specialty groups for referral services 13-14,20,25. Our study also identified such factors and health services need multifaceted interventions to tackle childhood/adolescent overweight and obesity 14…”

Gender perceptions and their impact when referring obese patients for exercise

“…This may make it more difficult in future for men to see male GPs. Further explanations as to why male HPs are reluctant to discuss weight related issues with male patients could be concerns about jeopardising GP/patient relationships (Walker et al, 2007) or the negative attitude that some GPs have about treating obesity (Epstien and Ogden et al, 2005;Sebiany, 2013) due to high failure rates for weight loss and poor adherence to schemes (Sebiany, 2013).…”

“…Some health professionals have been identified as being reluctant to encourage obese patients to participate in physical activity due to the possibility of jeopardising the GP/patient relationship (Epstein and Ogden, 2005;Walker et al, 2007). Sebiany (2013) and Epstein and Ogden (2005) have also identified that some health professionals demonstrate a negative attitude towards the concept of obesity which may be attributed to the low success rates that have been reported around related treatments (see also Ogden et al, 2001;Sebiany, 2013).…”

“…In terms of the nature of HP-patient interactions, Cade and O'Connell (1991) and Sebiany (2013) found that advice to patients on weight loss can be brief and somewhat cursory. Some health professionals have been identified as being reluctant to encourage obese patients to participate in physical activity due to the possibility of jeopardising the GP/patient relationship (Epstein and Ogden, 2005;Walker et al, 2007).…”

“…GPs might find it difficult to give patients advice on weight loss is that they either have (or previously have had) weight problems themselves, consequently making them feel that they are not best placed to advise on dietary issues (Cade and O'Connell, 1991;Sebiany, 2013).…”