Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2024

Evaluation of a weight stigma education module in dentistry and oral health therapy students (#70)

Zanab Malik 1 , Kathryn Williams 2 3 , Dileep Sharma 1 , Deborah Cockrell 1 , Clare Collins 4 5
  1. School of Health Sciences (Oral Health), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia
  2. Nepean Blue Mountains Family Metabolic Health Service, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Kingswood, NSW, Australia
  3. Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Nepean, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Health Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  5. Food and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

Background

Interventions to reduce weight stigma in the dental setting are limited.

 

Aims

To evaluate a weight stigma educational module in a dental student population.

 

Methods

All final year dentistry and oral health therapy (OHT) students and first year OHT students at two Australian universities were invited to participate. An introductory lecture on obesity in dentistry was given to all students, followed by completion of a healthcare professional educational module on obesity science and patient experience of obesity. Participant pre-post intervention surveys assessed weight stigma, attitudes and beliefs regarding obesity. Participants rated the module for usefulness and relevance to dental settings and recommended changes. Mixed methods were used for analysis.

 

Results

217 students received the lecture and participated in the pre-intervention survey, with 149 students (n=78 first year OHT; n=71 final year OHT and dentistry) completing the educational module and post-intervention surveys. Of 217, 12.9% displayed stigmatising attitudes and beliefs, higher than previous studies in health professionals. Post-intervention, participants reported understanding factors beyond personal control contribute to obesity (98.0%), that tailored approaches to treatment are needed (97.3%) using evidence-based, person-centred care for people living with obesity (98.0%). They agreed on importance of healthcare practitioners acknowledging weight stigma to improve care (96.6%). However, 18.8% agreed/strongly agreed that people living with obesity should control their body weight better and 28.9% agreed/strongly agreed that weight is a good indicator of someone’s health behaviours. Participants rated the module ≥7/10 for usefulness (81.9%) and relevance (79.2%). Several recommended patient examples in the dental setting, including communication approaches and oral health implications of obesity.

 

Conclusions

A weight stigma educational module was able to improve the understanding of obesity, among dental and oral health therapy students but did not fully address issues of individual blame. Dental relevance could be increased through patient examples in the dental setting.