Överviktiga patienter i hälso- och sjukvården

: Att bemöta och bli bemött

Abstract

Background: Overweight is a public health problem in the Western world, and the disease can cause severe suffering. Usually, the nurse has the most contact on a frequent basis with overweight patients. The nurse’s task is to treat patients in a dignified manner regardless of age, appearance, function or capacity. Aim: The aim with this literature study was to enlighten the encountering with overweight patients in the health care system. Method: This study was carried out as a literature study based on nine scientific articles. Result: The result is presented from the patient’s perspective as well as from the health care professionals’ perspective. The study shows that the encountering with overweight patients is experienced both negatively and positively. The patients could feel that they established a good relationship to the health care professionals. Other patients experienced that they were judged directly by their overweight. The health care professionals experienced that overweight were a sensitive area to work within. Conclusion: For a caring relation where the encountering is experienced as positive, the health care professionals should be aware of their attitudes in the caring relation and consider the different aspects of the human they treat.