Weight Stigma Toward Pregnant Patients: An Experimental Study of Medical Students
2024-04
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Weight Stigma Toward Pregnant Patients: An Experimental Study of Medical Students
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2024-04
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People who are overweight and obese commonly experience weight-related stigmatization, including within the healthcare system. Weight stigma from healthcare providers can lead to negative psychological and physiological outcomes for patients. This is particularly important in pregnancy care, as weight stigma is associated with pregnancy complications, even when controlling for actual weight. Previous research indicates that many medical providers harbor biases towards individuals with obesity, but few studies have explored the prevalence of weight stigma specific to pregnant patients. This study investigated the presence of implicit and explicit weight bias in a sample of medical students (N = 100; AgeM =25.83 ± 2.76). Using a between-subjects experimental design, participants were randomly assigned to either read a vignette about a pregnant patient who was normal weight or obese. Participants then completed questionnaires related to perceptions of and liking of the patient, as well as explicit attitudes about people with obesity. Knowledge about weight gain guidelines during pregnancy was also assessed. Independent samples t-tests and Cohen's d effect sizes were used to compare medical students’ perceptions and attitudes towards patients who are obese versus normal weight. Moderation analysis was used to examine the effect of medical student body mass index (BMI) on stigmatizing responses. No significant differences between vignettes was found, suggesting that implicit bias against pregnant patients who are obese versus normal weight was not identified in this sample using these measures. Weight stigmatizing attitudes were associated with medical student BMI, such that medical students with higher BMIs expressed more positive attitudes regarding caring for patients with obesity. In terms of knowledge, 68% of participants at least partially correctly reported the recommended weight gain for a patient with normal weight, with decreasing accuracy as patient BMI increased. This level of accurate knowledge is an improvement from previous research on medical student knowledge. The lack of implicit weight bias in this sample is inconsistent with previous research. This suggests that the status of weight stigma in medical providers may be improving, or that our sample’s exposure to weight sensitivity training may be impactful. The decreasing knowledge of recommended gestational weight gain as patient BMI increases is consistent with previous research.
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This item is a University Honors Capstone project.
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Niemann, Alicia L; LaCaille, Lara J. (2024). Weight Stigma Toward Pregnant Patients: An Experimental Study of Medical Students. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/262681.
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