Communication with an obese person

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Komunikacija s pretilom osobom
• Author: Nora Rako
• Mentor: Maja Baretić (mentor)
• Committee member: Maja Baretić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Velimir Altabas (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Jasenka Markeljević (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Internal Medicine); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-07-16, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Internal Medicine

Abstract

Epidemic of obesity is present worldwide. Obesity-related diseases are the main cause of mortality and morbidity, with huge impact on social aspect of life. Since terminology used during diagnosis of obesity is sometimes perceived as insulting, the proper communication with physicians is of the most importance. A study was conducted with the aim to provide a term that would regain consciousness about medical condition avoiding unnecessary discomfort. A total of 200 students (153 females, 47 males) attending 4th- 6th year at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb answered the online questionnaire. Four terms describing excess body weight were evaluated. Attitudes of young people, not burdened with former experience towards particular terminology, were analysed as acceptable/unacceptable in healthcare vs. everyday surrounding. Data was collected using SurveyMonkey® tool. Participants found the terms ‘adipose-adipozan’ and ‘obese-pretio’ acceptable in communication in healthcare and everyday surrounding. Term ‘chubby-bucko’ was found mostly unacceptable. The term ‘fat-debeo’ was considered inappropriate by the most of overweight students. Female students considered the term ‘fat-debeo’ inappropriate in interaction with healthcare workers, while male students didn't find it offensive. The recommendation is to use terms ‘adipose-adipozan’ and ‘obese-pretio’, to avoid colloquial terms. The term ‘fat-debeo’ should be used with caution.

Abstract (croatian)

Epidemija debljine prisutna je u u cijelom svijetu. Bolesti vezane uz debljinu su vodeći uzrok mortaliteta i morbiditeta, uz upliv i na socijalni aspekt života. Kod postavljanja dijagnoze debljine izrazito je bitna komunikacija s liječnikom te se sama terminologija ponekada doživljava uvredljivom. Cilj ove studije bio je iznaći nazivlje kojim bi se naglasila ozbiljnost medicinskog stanja, no izbjegla nepotrebna nelagoda imenovanjem debljine. U studiju je uključeno 200 studenata (153 žene, 47 muškarca) koji su pohađali 4.-6. godinu studija Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Ispitanici su odgovorili na upitnik evaluirajući četiri naziva koji opisuju višak tjelesne mase. Ispitanici su bili mladih ljudi, neopterećeni ranijim iskustvima te su analizirani njihovi stavovi prema terminu koji im je bio prihvatljiv/neprihvatljiv u zdravstvenom i svakodnevnom okruženju. Podatci su sakupljeni koristeći SurveyMonkey® alat. Ispitanici su smatrali da su nazivi ‘adipozan’ i ‘pretio’ prihvatljivi u zdravstvenom i u svakodnevnom okruženju. Naziv ‘bucko’ je bio neprihvatljiv. Naziv ‘debeo’ su smatrali neprihvatljivim gotovo svi ispitanici povećane tjelesne mase. Studentice su, za razliku od studenata, smatrale naziv ‘debeo’ neprihvatljiv u zdravstvenom okruženju. Preporuka je da se u dijagnozi prekomjerne tjelesne mase koriste nazivi ‘adipozan’ i ‘pretio’, da se izbjegavaju kolokvijalni nazivi te da se naziv ‘debeo’ koristi s oprezom.

• Keywords: obesity; diagnosis; terminology; communication; attitudes
• Keywords (croatian): debljina; dijagnoza; terminologija; komunikacija; stavovi
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:225817
• Study programme: Title: Medicine (in English language); Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica medicine (doktor/doktorica medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-12-21 12:44:29