A multifaceted training tool to reduce weight bias among healthcare students: A randomized controlled trial.

Riki Tesler, Mona Boaz, Assaf Buch, Shiri Sherf-Dagan, Michael Pinus, Lani Ofri, Inbar Tayar, Ido Keisar, Naama Paska-Davis, Roni Elran-Barak, Gizell Green

Journal: Obesity research & clinical practice 2024;18(1):35-42

PMID: 38184475

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Weight bias toward people with obesity (PwO) is common in healthcare settings. Efforts to address weight bias in healthcare settings should begin during university studies. This study aimed to explore the effect of a multifaceted intervention on weight bias among undergraduate healthcare students.

METHODS

An open label randomized controlled trial. The intervention tool consisted of short video lectures on obesity, vignettes simulating interactions between health professionals and PwO, and open discourse with a PwO. The control group received a short-written document on obesity. Online questionnaires on Anti-Fat Attitudes ('AFA'), short form of the Fat-Phobia Scale ('FPS'), Weight Implicit Association Test ('Weight-IAT'), and knowledge about obesity were administered at baseline, 1-week, and 6-week post-intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 162, 152, and 146 students participated in the study at baseline, 1-week, and 6-week post-intervention, respectively. Their mean age was 25.8 ± 6.7 years and 88.3% were women. Means of AFA total scores and FPS scores decreased significantly over time only within the intervention group (P Time*Group = 0.002 and 0.014). Both groups showed a similar trend over time in mean scores of Weight-IAT (P Time*Group = 0.868) and knowledge about obesity (P Time*Group = 0.115).

CONCLUSIONS

A multifaceted intervention resulted in a significant reduction in explicit weight bias but did not yield any additional advantages over the control group in implicit weight bias and knowledge about obesity.

GOV NUMBER

NCT05482802.

Address: Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; Department of Nutrition, Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: [email protected].; Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.; Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.; Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.; Spokeswomen and public relations office, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.; Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Boston, USA.; Health Management Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.; School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.

DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.12.002

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MeSH Terms: Female, Humans, Young Adult, Adult, Male, Weight Prejudice, Students, Health Personnel, Obesity, Attitude of Health Personnel