BRAVE Intervention for Obesity Stigma
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests a new training program called BRAVE, aimed at reducing weight bias among nursing students. Participants will divide into two groups: one will complete the BRAVE program, while the other will receive standard obesity education (SOL: Standard Obesity Lecture). The goal is to determine if BRAVE more effectively improves attitudes and communication with patients who have obesity. Ideal participants are second- or fourth-year nursing students within a specific nursing curriculum. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to educational advancements that may enhance patient care.
What prior data suggests that this weight sensitivity training program is safe for nursing students?
Research has shown that the BRAVE program, which aims to reduce weight bias, involves no physical treatments or medications. As a result, it lacks the typical safety concerns found in drug trials. Instead, BRAVE focuses on educational sessions to enhance communication skills and reduce bias.
The program includes role-playing exercises with actors, similar to those used in medical training, and these exercises are considered safe. As an educational program, BRAVE presents no side effects or adverse events. Participants will learn and practice ways to better understand and support people with obesity.
Therefore, joining this trial is not expected to pose any safety risks.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the BRAVE intervention because it focuses on reducing obesity stigma in healthcare. Unlike traditional approaches that primarily address obesity through medical lectures about the condition itself, BRAVE emphasizes improving communication skills to prevent weight bias among healthcare providers. By incorporating simulated patient encounters and personalized debriefing sessions, BRAVE offers a unique method aimed at fostering respect and acceptance, which could lead to more compassionate and effective care for individuals with higher body weight.
What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective in reducing weight bias?
Research shows that programs like BRAVE, which participants in this trial may receive, can help reduce negative attitudes towards people with obesity. One study found that participants in similar programs felt less negative about themselves due to their weight. Another study discovered that reducing weight stigma can lead to better mental health, as those facing stigma are 32% more likely to experience poor mental health. Additionally, programs addressing weight stigma have been linked to higher self-esteem and less anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that BRAVE could help change attitudes and improve interactions with those living with obesity. Meanwhile, the SOL arm, serving as a control in this trial, will focus on standard obesity education without specific emphasis on communication skills.12678
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for nursing students aged 18-25 who are in their second or fourth year of the traditional or FLEX BSN undergraduate curriculum. It aims to reduce weight bias and increase sensitivity towards patients with obesity by comparing two educational approaches.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants receive either the BRAVE intervention or the Standard Obesity Lecture (SOL) with two simulation encounters and educational sessions
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in attitudes, beliefs, and clinical communication behaviors at 3 months and 1 year post-intervention
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- BRAVE
- SOL: Standard Obesity Lecture
Trial Overview
The BRAVE Study tests a new training program against the standard obesity lecture (SOL). Students will interact with standardized patients living with obesity, and their attitudes and clinical behaviors will be measured over one year to see if there's an improvement.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
BRAVE (Building Respect and Acceptance through Valuing Everybody). Participants will receive two 30-minute Simulated Patients (SP) encounters: 1 at baseline (before the weight bias or obesity presentations) and one at 1.5 months after the initial education. The simulation encounters will include SPs living with higher body weight and will emphasize communication skills to prevent weight bias in the clinical environment. BRAVE arm will consist of two educational sessions focused on reducing weight bias in health care. Both BRAVE SP encounters will provide a Debriefing for Meaningful Learning segment tailored to focus on reducing weight bias.
SOL (Standard Obesity Lecture). The control arm will experience two standard obesity lectures and two simulation encounters with standardized patients living with higher body weight. The control condition consists of two sessions, each of which includes a one-hour presentation on obesity. Both simulations will be followed by standard Debriefing for Meaningful Learning segments, but these segments will focus only on the medical conditions and risk factors of obesity and no feedback on communication skills will be provided.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Villanova University
Lead Sponsor
Citations
WEIGHT BIAS REDUCTION INTERVENTION WITH ...
The study design is a cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing BRAVE to SOL (Standard Obesity Lecture) in reducing weight bias among ...
Changes to Weight Bias Internalization and Eating ...
Forty‐five percent of participants reported previous experiences of weight stigma at baseline through either teasing, unfair treatment, or ...
Obesity Stigma: Causes, Consequences, and Potential ...
Strong evidence supports obesity stigma as an important contributor to poor mental health outcomes for people living with obesity, who are 32% more likely to ...
A School-Based Intervention Program to Reduce Weight ...
Results: A significant reduction in internalized weight bias was observed among students perceiving themselves as overweight following the intervention.
5.
endocrinologyadvisor.com
endocrinologyadvisor.com/news/internalized-weight-stigma-intervention-lowers-weight/Internalized Weight Stigma Intervention Lowers ...
Previous research findings suggest a link between internalized weight stigma (IWS) and lower self‐esteem, worse depression and anxiety, more ...
The Impact of Weight Bias and Stigma on the 24 h Dietary ...
Weight stigma was reported by 64.1% of the sample. Weight stigma constructs did not predict the accuracy of energy intake reporting. People with obesity ...
Overcoming Stigma and Bias in Obesity Management - NCBI
Weight stigma can lead patients to feel judged, avoid seeking care, and experience poorer health outcomes. In clinical settings, bias and stigma ...
8.
obesitycanada.ca
obesitycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/10-Canadian-Adult-Obesity-CPG-Psych-Interventions.pdfEffective Psychological and Behavioural Interventions in ...
69 examined internalized weight bias with 81 women with obesity with similar results. High internalized weight bias showed associations with ...
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