Primary care physicians’ knowledge and attitudes about obesity, adherence to treatment guidelines and its’ association with confidence to treat obesity at the Saudi Ministry of Interior primary health care centers

Background and Aim: Many primary care physicians (PCPs) believed that managing overweight and obesity is essential to their jobs, however, many believe that they were doing it ineffectively, unsatisfying, and had negative attitudes. We conducted this study to explore the knowledge, attitudes and adherence to obesity management guidelines, identify potential barriers that may prevent adherence of PCPs to obesity treatment guidelines. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study and conducted a questionnaire sent via email to all PCPs in the Ministry of Interior centers in Riyadh, Al-Kharj, AlQassim, Wadi Ad Dawasir, Hail and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 119 PCPs participated in the survey, 61 (51.3%) males and 58 (48.7%) females. All respondents (n = 119, 100%) answered correctly that obesity is a disease. Of PCPs surveyed, genetics accounted for 75.6% of the responses as the cause of obesity. 79.8% believed that the best way for patients with obesity to lose weight was to engage in regular physical activity. The majority of PCPs (87.4%) thought that treating obesity should be a top priority, and 88.2% would typically recommend obesity therapy to their patients. Around 68.9% of PCPs thought that it’s their patients’ responsibility to lose weight. The majority will recommend obesity treatment and 75.6% would talk to their patients about weight concerns, while 60.5% would refer their patients to obesity surgery. There was a positive significant association between higher knowledge and better attitude and better adherence to treatment guidelines. More experienced PCPs were more confident. The most common perceived barrier was the patients’ lack of desire to follow obesity treatment. Conclusion: Primary care clinics and PCPs play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating patients with obesity, according to Ministry of Health guidelines on the prevention and management of obesity. PCPs must not only acknowledge obesity as a chronic illness and the possible long-term consequences it may cause, but also provide comprehensive, multi-component interventions that include lifestyle changes, medication, and appropriate referrals for bariatric surgery when needed. Healthcare professionals must form a cooperative relationship with obese patients to ensure that the patients follow treatment protocols.