# Attitudes and behaviors of pediatric surgical nurses toward pediatric patients with obesity in China

## TL;DR

This study explores how pediatric surgical nurses in China perceive and care for children with obesity, finding that attitudes and biases, rather than knowledge, most influence their caregiving intentions.

## Contribution

The study identifies that nurses' attitudes and personal factors, not just knowledge, strongly correlate with their caregiving intentions toward obese pediatric patients.

## Key findings

- Most nurses showed acceptable knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward pediatric patients with obesity.
- Behavioral intentions were positively linked to nurses' BMI and positive attitudes but negatively linked to perceived weight bias and negative attitudes.
- Professional preparedness gaps and persistent weight bias were identified as areas needing improvement.

## Abstract

Childhood obesity is a growing global public health issue, with increasing prevalence worldwide, including in China. The rise in obesity-related pediatric conditions requiring surgical intervention underscores the need to address this challenge in pediatric surgical care. However, research on this topic is limited. This study aimed to assess pediatric surgical nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and factors influencing their behavioral intentions.

This is a dual-center, cross-sectional study. Nurses in direct clinical care roles at two medical institutions in China were randomly selected and completed a questionnaire assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Factors associated with their attitudes, and behavioral intentions were investigated.

A total of 178 nurses participated in the study. Most demonstrated an acceptable level of obesity-related health knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward pediatric patients with obesity. However, gaps in professional preparedness and persistent weight bias were identified. Behavioral intentions were positively correlated with nurses’ BMI (r = 0.16, p = 0.04) and positive attitudes (r = 0.20, p = 0.01), and negatively correlated with perceived weight bias (r = −0.39, p < 0.01) and negative attitudes toward treating pediatric patients with obesity (r = −0.45, p < 0.01). Behavioral intentions were not correlated with obesity-related knowledge or other participant characteristics.

Nurses’ attitudes and personal factors, rather than knowledge alone, are more correlated with caregiving behavioral intentions toward pediatric patients with obesity. Addressing biases and enhancing professional preparedness through targeted education are crucial for improving care in pediatric surgical settings in China.