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Sensitization Lectures for Reducing Weight Bias in Undergraduate Medical Students
Indu Saxena1, Rohit Swaroop2, Apurva Kumar2
1Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, IND.
Cureus
|March 20, 2024
Summary
An obesity sensitization program effectively reduced explicit bias among medical students. This intervention shows promise for mitigating weight bias in healthcare settings and improving patient care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Healthcare Disparities
- Psychology
Background:
- Discrimination is prevalent in society and healthcare, negatively impacting patient care.
- Obesity bias is a significant issue within healthcare, affecting individuals seeking medical assistance.
- Healthcare students have demonstrated both implicit and explicit obesity bias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of an obesity sensitization program (OSP) on medical students' bias.
- To determine if an OSP can reduce explicit and implicit obesity bias in future healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- 102 undergraduate medical students participated in the study.
- Implicit bias was measured using the Implicit Association Test (IAT).
- Explicit bias was assessed using four distinct toolkits before and after the OSP.
Main Results:
- The OSP did not result in a significant change in implicit bias.
- A significant reduction in explicit obesity bias was observed across all four measurement tools post-OSP.
- The OSP successfully raised awareness of obesity bias among medical students.
Conclusions:
- Obesity sensitization programs can effectively reduce explicit bias in medical students.
- Implementing OSPs in medical education may help decrease discrimination in healthcare settings.
- Reducing healthcare provider bias can lead to improved patient experiences and outcomes.
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