Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education

Background: Obesity is a common problem in primary care, but little is known about Internal Medicine residents’ attitudes towards obesity treatment.Objective: To describe resident attitudes about obesity treatment.Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 101 Internal Medicine residents in Philadelphia, PA...

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Main Authors: Nichola J. Davis M.D., M.S, Himani Shishodia, M.D, Bizath Taqui, M.D, Claudia Dumfeh, B.S, Judith Wylie-Rosett, Ed.D., R.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2008-01-01
Series:Medical Education Online
Subjects:
Online Access:http://obesity;residenteducation;treatment
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spelling doaj-b184cd623cfb41d88e15f411288b110d2020-11-25T02:01:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupMedical Education Online1087-29812008-01-0113Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved EducationNichola J. Davis M.D., M.SHimani Shishodia, M.DBizath Taqui, M.DClaudia Dumfeh, B.SJudith Wylie-Rosett, Ed.D., R.DBackground: Obesity is a common problem in primary care, but little is known about Internal Medicine residents’ attitudes towards obesity treatment.Objective: To describe resident attitudes about obesity treatment.Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 101 Internal Medicine residents in Philadelphia, PA, and Bronx, NY. Responses to 18 items on a Likert scale assessed resident attitudes. Weight loss goals were assessed with open-ended questions to a clinical scenario. ANOVA with trend analysis compared questionnaire responses to resident postgraduate year (PGY) level. Associations between clinic site, PGY level, and dichotomized Likert responses were tested with chi-square analysis.Results: 19% of residents felt competent in prescribing weight loss programs. Few residents (18%) considered the current recommendations of a 5-10% reduction in body weight to be successful in an obese hypothetical patient. Third-year residents reported greater feelings of negativity towards obese patients than first- and second year residents (p<.05)Conclusions: Resident physicians do not feel competent in treating obesity and have unrealistic weight loss goals; third-year residents had more negative attitudes about obese patients compared to residents in their 1st or 2nd year of training. These areas are targets for further resident education about obesity management.obesity;residenteducation;treatmenthttp://www.med-ed-online.org/pdf/Res00257.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Nichola J. Davis M.D., M.S
Himani Shishodia, M.D
Bizath Taqui, M.D
Claudia Dumfeh, B.S
Judith Wylie-Rosett, Ed.D., R.D
spellingShingle Nichola J. Davis M.D., M.S
Himani Shishodia, M.D
Bizath Taqui, M.D
Claudia Dumfeh, B.S
Judith Wylie-Rosett, Ed.D., R.D
Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education
Medical Education Online
http://www.med-ed-online.org/pdf/Res00257.pdf
author_facet Nichola J. Davis M.D., M.S
Himani Shishodia, M.D
Bizath Taqui, M.D
Claudia Dumfeh, B.S
Judith Wylie-Rosett, Ed.D., R.D
author_sort Nichola J. Davis M.D., M.S
title Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education
title_short Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education
title_full Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education
title_fullStr Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education
title_full_unstemmed Resident Physician Attitudes and Competence About Obesity Treatment: Need for Improved Education
title_sort resident physician attitudes and competence about obesity treatment: need for improved education
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
series Medical Education Online
issn 1087-2981
publishDate 2008-01-01
description Background: Obesity is a common problem in primary care, but little is known about Internal Medicine residents’ attitudes towards obesity treatment.Objective: To describe resident attitudes about obesity treatment.Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 101 Internal Medicine residents in Philadelphia, PA, and Bronx, NY. Responses to 18 items on a Likert scale assessed resident attitudes. Weight loss goals were assessed with open-ended questions to a clinical scenario. ANOVA with trend analysis compared questionnaire responses to resident postgraduate year (PGY) level. Associations between clinic site, PGY level, and dichotomized Likert responses were tested with chi-square analysis.Results: 19% of residents felt competent in prescribing weight loss programs. Few residents (18%) considered the current recommendations of a 5-10% reduction in body weight to be successful in an obese hypothetical patient. Third-year residents reported greater feelings of negativity towards obese patients than first- and second year residents (p<.05)Conclusions: Resident physicians do not feel competent in treating obesity and have unrealistic weight loss goals; third-year residents had more negative attitudes about obese patients compared to residents in their 1st or 2nd year of training. These areas are targets for further resident education about obesity management.
topic http://www.med-ed-online.org/pdf/Res00257.pdf
url http://obesity;residenteducation;treatment
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