Web Based Intervention to Reduce Weight Bias Among Dietitians

Texas Tech University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Intervention Video (I); Weight Neutral Control Video (C2); Weight Control Video (C1)

Treatments: Other: Online Educational Videos

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04177784

IRB2019-321

Details and patient eligibility

About

Weight bias in dietitians is prevalent and may affect patient care. The investigators conducted a randomized controlled trial to test if explicit and implicit bias could be influenced by a short, 20 minute educational video.

Full description

This randomized controlled trial studied the effect of three different videos on weight bias in a nationally representative sample of dietitians. The "intervention" group (I) watched a video about the etiology of obesity, reasons for weight regain, and how to talk to patients about weight. The first "control" group (C1) received information about the role of the environment and individual behavior in weight gain, and tools to help patients control their weight. The second control group (C2) received a weight neutral video about the role of dieticians in society. Bias measures were taken before and just after watching the video, and again one month later.

Enrollment: 166 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Any dietitian in the Clinical Dietitian Registry Database.

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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166 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Intervention (I)

Experimental group

Description:

This arm was randomized to a 20 min video that emphasized information about factors other than individual behaviors that influence weight, weight loss and ability to maintain weight. It also indirectly addressed weight bias by explaining how to have conversation about weight and health with a patient with obesity that is free of biases.

Treatment:

Other: Online Educational Videos

Weight Control (C1)

Active Comparator group

Description:

This arm was randomized to a 20 min video that emphasized the controllable aspects of weight and gave dietitians an overview of a tool to help plan and monitor weight loss.

Treatment:

Other: Online Educational Videos

Weight Neutral Control (C2)

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The arm was randomized to a 20 min video about the role dietitians play in society, that made no mention of weight or obesity.

Treatment:

Other: Online Educational Videos