Weight bias and stigmatization may result in discrimination against obese individuals by healthcare professionals, decreasing the quality and quantity of healthcare to this at-risk population. The purpose of this program evaluation was to explore the impact of an educational Bariatric Sensitivity Educational Module on healthcare professionals.
Description:
An educational module was designed to address the many causes of obesity and to improve sensitivity through education and knowledge. The program evaluation materials included a demographic form, a pre-survey about attitudes, and an educational module. One month after completion of the module, the program evaluation participants received a post-survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bariatric Sensitivity Educational Module on respondents' attitudes toward bariatric patients.
Discussion:
In our sample, the educational module was effective in decreasing weight stigmatization in healthcare professionals one month after the completion of the intervention.
Conclusions:
Bariatric sensitivity educational modules are useful tools to help decrease stigmatization. These tools may be easily adapted to a web-based educational format in a variety of healthcare settings. The Bariatric Sensitivity Educational Module has been placed into our facility's web-based education system and has been completed by more than 700 members of our nursing staff.
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