Anti-Obesity Bias Among Surgeons and Association With Clinical Decision Making

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Specialties
• Health Equity

Background:

• Implicit and explicit anti-obesity bias can affect healthcare delivery.
• Understanding bias levels in surgical fields is critical for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate implicit and explicit anti-obesity bias in surgical attendings and trainees.
• To determine if these biases influence clinical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey assessed bias using the Weight Implicit Association Test (IAT) and Beliefs About Obese Persons (BAOP) scale.
• Case vignettes and regression analyses explored the link between bias and clinical decisions.
• Data collected from OB/GYN and general surgery departments at a single academic medical center.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of implicit anti-obesity bias (thin preference) was observed across all training levels.
• Explicit bias scores varied, with general surgery showing less bias than OB/GYN.
• Neither implicit nor explicit bias significantly correlated with clinical treatment choices, though lower explicit bias was linked to more favorable patient impressions.

Conclusions:

• Anti-obesity bias is prevalent among surgical trainees and attendings in OB/GYN and general surgery.
• While not directly impacting clinical decisions in this study, bias necessitates targeted interventions.
• Ensuring equitable patient care requires addressing both implicit and explicit biases to prevent negative impacts.