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Sherf-Dagan S, Ofri L, Tayar I, Keisar I, Buch A, Paska-Davis N, Pinus M, Tesler R, Elran-Barak R, Boaz M, Green G. A multifaceted training tool to reduce weight bias among healthcare students: A randomized controlled trial. Obes Res Clin Pract 2024; 18:35-42. [PMID: 38184475 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
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. CLINICALTRIALS GOV NUMBER NCT05482802.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiri Sherf-Dagan
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; Department of Nutrition, Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Lani Ofri
- Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Inbar Tayar
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Ido Keisar
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Assaf Buch
- 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
| | - Naama Paska-Davis
- Spokeswomen and public relations office, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Michael Pinus
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | - Riki Tesler
- Health Management Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Roni Elran-Barak
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mona Boaz
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Gizell Green
- Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Styk W, Wojtowicz E, Zmorzynski S. Reliable Knowledge about Obesity Risk, Rather Than Personality, Is Associated with Positive Beliefs towards Obese People: Investigating Attitudes and Beliefs about Obesity, and Validating the Polish Versions of ATOP, BAOP and ORK-10 Scales. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:14977. [PMID: 36429694 PMCID: PMC9690218 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Obesity has reached epidemic proportions. With the increase in the number of obese people, we have also witnessed a rise in the stigmatisation of this population. The aim of our study was to: (I) validate Polish versions of the attitude toward obese people (ATOP) scale, the beliefs about obese persons (BAOP) scale, and translate the obesity risk knowledge scale (ORK-10); (II) analyse the relationship between personality and the knowledge about obesity, as well as attitudes and beliefs towards obese people. METHODS The translation procedure was based on the principles of intercultural validation scales. The study was conducted on a group of 306 individuals, including 189 females and 117 males. RESULTS The original three-factor structure of the ATOP scale was confirmed in the Polish version. Factor analysis confirmed the one-factor structure of the BAOP scale in the Polish version. A very strong correlation was found between ATOP/BAOP and ORK-10. The correlation of personality with ATOP/BAOP scales was at a low level. Regression analysis indicated that knowledge of obesity risk predicted ATOP and BAOP by more than 58% and 50%, in turn, personality only 20% and 3.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION The polish versions of ATOP, BAOP and ORK-10 scales are fully useful measurement tools. The knowledge about obesity risk is associated with beliefs and attitudes about obese people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Styk
- Department of Psychology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewa Wojtowicz
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology, Warsaw Management University, 03-772 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Szymon Zmorzynski
- Department of Cancer Genetics with Cytogenetic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
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