Metabolic threat, obesity identification, and diabetes perception gaps among nurses: first national research survey in Pakistan

Farhana Siddique; Daizi Jafer; Javeria Shabbir; Fouzia Naz; Saba Naz; Atika Akram; Shamim Nazir

doi:10.1530/endoabs.117.P280

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Endocrine Abstracts (2026) 117 P280 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.117.P280

SFEBES2026 Poster Presentations Late Breaking (54 abstracts)

Metabolic threat, obesity identification, and diabetes perception gaps among nurses: first national research survey in Pakistan

Farhana Siddique ¹ , Daizi Jafer ² , Javeria Shabbir ³ , Fouzia Naz ⁴ , Saba Naz ³ , Atika Akram ⁵ & Shamim Nazir ³

Author affiliations

¹King’s College London, London, United Kingdom; ²Rawal College of Nursing, Lahore, Pakistan; ³RIPHAH University, Islamabad, Pakistan; ⁴National Institute of Child Healthy, Karachi, Pakistan; ⁵Mohi-Uddin University, Azad Jammu Kashmir, Pakistan

Background: Metabolic diseases/non-communicable diseases (NCDs) particularly obesity & diabetes producing grave burden for the country’s healthcare with 33% of population living with diabetes in Pakistan. Nurses’ perception, understanding, and recognition of metabolic risks including diabetes and obesity may be enormously inadequate. No national-level evaluation has thoroughly examined these differences in nurses’ perceptions in Pakistan.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, perception, and identification practices of nurses in Pakistan about obesity and diabetes to identify important professional and demographic aspects linked to perception gaps.

Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey design recruiting graduate nurses using a validated self-administered questionnaire to gather data of perceptions regarding obesity, diabetes, and lifestyle modification. After ethical approval & consent obtained, data was assessed using descriptive statistics, SPSS & inferential methods.

Results: A total 0f 1% graduate nurses across country from 62 cities responded. The significant gaps in the understanding of diabetes risk markers, the acknowledgment of obesity as a metabolic danger, and the perception of lifestyle-related preventative methods were identified. Perception gap scores were found to be significantly correlated with clinical experience, qualification level, employment environment, and previous exposure to metabolic health training (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The first nationwide survey of its kind in Pakistan revealed marked gaps in nurses’ perceptions and knowledge of metabolic risks, obesity detection, and diabetes risk awareness. In clinical practice these gaps make it more difficult to effectively prevent and manage NCDs. The results highlighted the critical need for organized training programs, improved curriculum integration, and national awareness campaign which led to implementation of First Nurse-Led 8-week Diabetes Care Course. As a fundamental aspect of nursing competencies in Pakistan, metabolic health should be given top priority in future policies and practice guidelines.

Keywords: Metabolic threats, Obesity identification, Diabetes perception, Nurses, National survey, Pakistan, Non-communicable diseases.