title: Weight Bias in University Health Professions Students.
abstract: Negative attitudes toward people with high body weight have been documented in pre-professional health students, prompting concern that such feelings may manifest as poor patient care in professional practice. This study assessed weight bias in university students in the non-physician health professions. A convenience sample of 206 students completed an online survey composed of a validated 14-item scale (1-5 lowest to highest weight bias) and questions regarding personal experiences of weight bias. Respondents were grouped by discipline within graduate and undergraduate levels. Weight bias was present in a majority of respondents. Overall, the percentage of responses indicative of weight bias was 92.7%. The mean total score was 3.65. ± 0.52, and the rating exceeded 3 for all 14 scale descriptors of high-weight people. In graduate students, discipline had a significant main effect on total score (p=0.01), with lower scores in dietetics (3.17 ± 0.46) vs audiology/sign language/speech language pathology (3.84 ± 0.41) and physician assistant students (3.78 ± 0.51; p<0.05). These findings show that weight bias is prevalent in health professions students at a mountain west university. Well-controlled studies that track students into professional practice would help determine whether bias-reduction interventions in college improve provider behaviors and clinical outcomes.
authors: Dietetic Programs, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209-8117, USA. Tel 208-282- 3953, fax 208-282-3937. blancynt@isu.edu.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Blanton
authors: Jennifer K
authors: JK
authors: Brooks
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: McKnight
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010465:Perception; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities