Understanding academic clinicians’ intent to treat pediatric obesity

Table 2 Agreement level for subscale items (n = 198)

	Percentage (%)
	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree or disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
Attitudes/benefits
When obesity is managed or treated, children and adolescents will be less likely to develop:
Diabetes	1.5	0.5	2.0	39.4	56.6
Cardiovascular disease	1.5	0.0	4.0	43.4	51.0
High blood pressure	1.5	0.5	3.0	44.9	50.0
Musculoskeletal problems	1.5	1.5	3.5	49.5	43.9
Elevated LDL cholesterol levels	2.0	1.5	9.1	52.0	35.4
Mental health problems	1.5	3.5	15.7	54.0	25.3
Subjective norms
What would encourage you to manage or treat pediatric obesity?
Patients requesting treatment	0.0	4.5	12.1	38.4	44.9
Parents requesting that a child or adolescent be treated	0.0	5.6	21.2	49.5	23.7
Clinical practice guidelines	0.0	3.5	15.2	58.1	23.2
Colleagues who found treatment was successful	0.0	3.5	24.7	55.6	16.2
Policies in your organization	0.5	10.1	36.4	42.4	10.6
Meta-analyses showing treatment was successful	0.0	2.5	8.1	52.5	36.9
Self-efficacy/barriers
What would make it difficult for you to manage or treat pediatric obesity?
Families do not support pediatric obesity treatment	2.0	16.7	19.7	40.4	21.2
Patients do not adhere to pediatric obesity treatments	0.0	7.6	18.2	53.5	20.7
I don't have enough expertise in the treatment of pediatric obesity	5.6	18.7	22.7	37.4	15.7
It would be hard to find the time	5.6	23.2	29.8	27.8	13.6
I don't have access to consultation regarding the treatment of pediatric obesity	8.6	32.8	22.7	30.8	5.1
Difficulty billing for pediatric obesity treatment	9.1	36.4	36.9	14.1	3.5
My colleagues would not support pediatric obesity treatment	15.2	42.4	27.3	13.1	2.0
Perceived behavioral control
With respect to pediatric obesity, I have the skills to:
Conduct an assessment	4.5	16.2	15.2	47.0	17.2
Estimate the risks associated with pediatric obesity	4.5	18.2	19.7	48.0	9.6
Counsel patients and families regarding treatment options	6.1	22.2	19.7	43.4	8.6
Deal with children and adolescents who do not adhere to treatment	10.1	36.4	18.7	29.3	5.6
Deal with families who do not support treatment	12.1	35.4	21.7	27.8	3.0
Provide psychosocial treatment	17.7	44.4	19.2	16.2	2.5
Provide long term treatment follow-up	16.2	24.2	18.7	35.4	5.6
Evaluate the usefulness of different approaches to treatment	7.6	26.3	22.7	38.9	4.5
Treat or manage obesity with medication	25.3	48.0	12.6	12.1	2.0
Provide surgical treatment	66.7	22.2	4.0	4.0	3.0
Intent
I would be willing to:
Refer a pediatric patient for obesity treatment	2.5	2.0	3.0	41.9	50.5
Assess obesity in children	7.1	10.6	8.1	50.5	23.7
Assess obesity in adolescents	6.1	9.6	11.1	48.5	24.7
Counsel families regarding obesity treatment options	7.1	11.6	13.6	52.5	15.2
Accept referrals of children and adolescents who have difficulty with obesity	23.2	25.3	14.1	25.3	12.1
Provide psychosocial treatments for obesity in adolescents	19.7	37.4	15.2	22.7	5.1
Provide psychosocial treatments for obesity in children	22.2	35.4	16.2	22.7	3.5
Treat obesity with medication	19.2	38.9	18.2	21.7	2.0
Provide surgical treatments for obesity	56.1	23.2	9.1	9.1	2.5

The order of questions within subscales was randomized in each survey. LDL: Low-density lipoprotein.