Abstract
Obesity is a prevalent disease that is often a source of stigmatization. Weight bias has been documented in healthcare settings and associated with less physician time spent with patients, less patient-centered communication, and more patient delay or withdrawal from care. Weight bias is widespread in society and the healthcare field, including among medical students. This study examined the hypothesis that weight bias in medical students is related to negative attitudes toward weight management counseling (WMC), perceived WMC skills, and self-efficacy for WMC. A sample of 762 medical students during their core clerkship rotation (graduating class of 2017) from eight US medical schools completed questions related to weight bias, attitudes toward WMC, perceived WMC skills, and self-efficacy for WMC. Results indicated that medical students with more weight bias held more negative attitudes toward WMC, even after adjustment for age, gender, and intended medical specialty. Weight bias was not significantly related to perceived WMC skills or self-efficacy for WMC. Females had a more positive attitude toward WMC, but lower perceived WMC skills and self-efficacy for WMC than males. Males had significantly more weight bias and were less likely to choose primary care than females. Implications for medical education are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 327-333 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Medical Science Educator |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Education
Cite this
Medical Student Weight Bias : the Relationship of Attitudinal Constructs Related to Weight Management Counseling. / Eno, Cassie A.; Guck, Thomas; Soleymani, Taraneh; Ashe, Karen M.; Churchill, Linda C.; Crawford, Sybil L.; Frisard, Christine F.; Hayes, Rashelle B.; Martin, Leslee; Margo, Katherine L.; Pbert, Lori; Pendharkar, Jyothi A.; Shaw, Monica Ann; Ockene, Judith K.
In: Medical Science Educator, Vol. 28, No. 2, 01.06.2018, p. 327-333.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Medical Student Weight Bias
T2 - the Relationship of Attitudinal Constructs Related to Weight Management Counseling
AU - Eno, Cassie A.
AU - Guck, Thomas
AU - Soleymani, Taraneh
AU - Ashe, Karen M.
AU - Churchill, Linda C.
AU - Crawford, Sybil L.
AU - Frisard, Christine F.
AU - Hayes, Rashelle B.
AU - Martin, Leslee
AU - Margo, Katherine L.
AU - Pbert, Lori
AU - Pendharkar, Jyothi A.
AU - Shaw, Monica Ann
AU - Ockene, Judith K.
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Obesity is a prevalent disease that is often a source of stigmatization. Weight bias has been documented in healthcare settings and associated with less physician time spent with patients, less patient-centered communication, and more patient delay or withdrawal from care. Weight bias is widespread in society and the healthcare field, including among medical students. This study examined the hypothesis that weight bias in medical students is related to negative attitudes toward weight management counseling (WMC), perceived WMC skills, and self-efficacy for WMC. A sample of 762 medical students during their core clerkship rotation (graduating class of 2017) from eight US medical schools completed questions related to weight bias, attitudes toward WMC, perceived WMC skills, and self-efficacy for WMC. Results indicated that medical students with more weight bias held more negative attitudes toward WMC, even after adjustment for age, gender, and intended medical specialty. Weight bias was not significantly related to perceived WMC skills or self-efficacy for WMC. Females had a more positive attitude toward WMC, but lower perceived WMC skills and self-efficacy for WMC than males. Males had significantly more weight bias and were less likely to choose primary care than females. Implications for medical education are discussed.
AB - Obesity is a prevalent disease that is often a source of stigmatization. Weight bias has been documented in healthcare settings and associated with less physician time spent with patients, less patient-centered communication, and more patient delay or withdrawal from care. Weight bias is widespread in society and the healthcare field, including among medical students. This study examined the hypothesis that weight bias in medical students is related to negative attitudes toward weight management counseling (WMC), perceived WMC skills, and self-efficacy for WMC. A sample of 762 medical students during their core clerkship rotation (graduating class of 2017) from eight US medical schools completed questions related to weight bias, attitudes toward WMC, perceived WMC skills, and self-efficacy for WMC. Results indicated that medical students with more weight bias held more negative attitudes toward WMC, even after adjustment for age, gender, and intended medical specialty. Weight bias was not significantly related to perceived WMC skills or self-efficacy for WMC. Females had a more positive attitude toward WMC, but lower perceived WMC skills and self-efficacy for WMC than males. Males had significantly more weight bias and were less likely to choose primary care than females. Implications for medical education are discussed.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062042041&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40670-018-0546-1
DO - 10.1007/s40670-018-0546-1
M3 - Article
VL - 28
SP - 327
EP - 333
JO - Medical Science Educator
JF - Medical Science Educator
SN - 2156-8650
IS - 2
ER -