Nursing – 438
Introduction
The understanding related to the outcomes of obesity on a patient continues to build-up due to its prevalence. Weight bias and stigma referred to as negative attitudes in terms of beliefs related to patients due to their high weight and hence, result in manifesting it as stereotypes or even prejudice against patients suffering from obesity. Such type of weight bias often leads to stigma among healthcare providers, including actions against patients suffering from obesity, causing exclusion as well as the marginalization of such patients. It often leads to discrimination in the healthcare environment by the providers (Alberga, Russell-Mayhew, von Ranson & McLaren, 2016).
The present study focuses on a summary of three articles based on a high level of weight stigma and bias for patients with obesity and healthcare providers discrimination against it. The issue is further examined within the context of opinions which are expressed in the form of 3 different types of media, i.e., online media article, scholarly article, and a website. The intent behind the summary is to give away recent objective information regarding the nursing issue.
Discussion
Various research is being carried out to support that the weight bias, as well as stigma, is a risk indicator for obesity; however, it is not recognized well that healthcare professionals and administrators take actions to improve quality of care and outcomes among patients suffering from obesity and in order to decrease the weight bias and stigma. A recent article published in the Montreal Gazette on a survey on “Health professionals discrimination against obese people” in Canada shows that the healthcare providers in Canada demonstrate a high level of weight stigma and bias for the patients with obesity hence, increasing the stigmatization which surrounds the chronic disorder (Derfel, 2019). A total of 2000 individuals were surveyed in the article but, finished at 395 healthcare professionals, 150 employees. The author considered perception regarding the disorder, which has an impact on 1 in every four adults and claiming 1 in every ten youngsters around the country. A noteworthy finding made by the author was about the glaring disparities as to “how obesity is viewed by the healthcare providers including nurses, doctors, employers and even the individuals suffering from it” (Carels et al., 2014). The survey strikingly focuses on another finding made during the survey, including 72% of healthcare providers following and keeping a negative attitude towards people with obesity. The methodology used is based on anonymous, online-based self-reporting questionnaires in the form of surveys for assessing their explicit weight stigma, healthcare provider’s negative attitude on the treatment of patients suffering from obesity (Derfel, 2019).
In the scholarly article, i.e., the second article “Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity”, no survey on participants selected was carried out as it provides a critical review of evidence obtained from research articles (Phelan et al., 2015). Hence, these two articles differ from each other in terms of conducted research. However, the article carried out an evidence-based narrative review of the research articles for highlighting the pathways through which the weight stigma and obesity bias might affect the healthcare procedure while impeding healthcare professional’s goal to provide equal quality of care. The authors completed this by the review of absolute obesity bias and weight stigma as well as the impact of such type of research studies which are published till the year 2014. Furthermore, after the review of the research questions, the authors tried to focus on research studies that pertain to the high impact of weight bias and stigma on healthcare professionals and their behavior, health results of a patient, and the patient’s interaction with their healthcare provider. Although no citation list was provided in the article about the total number of studies they included, even if the total articles mentioned were 109 it is difficult for me to assume that all the studies are reviewed in the article (Phelan et al., 2015).
The second study initiates with the examination of the impact of weight bias and stigma on results for patients who belong at a higher weight generally. The article also recognized that the healthcare providers in primary care, healthcare trainees, medical nurses, as well as other types of healthcare professionals keep on holding an opinion both negatively explicit and negatively implicit regarding patients suffering from obesity. The healthcare providers recognized that it is highly acceptable regularly to depict weight stigma and bias explicitly as compared to different forms of discrimination, including, racism, etc. The article also made a conclusion on how weight bias and stigma lead to a reduction in a healthcare provider’s capability to be focused on the patient when having an interaction with other patients that causes an impact on the quality and quantity of care provided, and to the compliance of the patient. Another finding suggests that the negative attitude of healthcare providers is linked with reduced mental health results for patients suffering from obesity as the healthcare providers such as physicians might over-attribute the signs and symptoms as well as the issues of obesity and even have failed to further refer the patient for advanced tests or for considering other treatment alternatives other than giving advice to the patient on losing their weights (Eisenberg, Noria, Grover, Goodpaster & Rogers, 2019). The second study initiates with the examination of the impact of weight bias and stigma on results for patients who belong at a higher weight generally. The article also recognized that the healthcare providers in primary care, healthcare trainees, medical nurses, as well as other types of healthcare professionals keep on holding an opinion both negatively explicit and negatively implicit regarding patients suffering from obesity. The healthcare providers recognized that it is highly acceptable regularly to depict weight stigma and bias explicitly as compared to different forms of discrimination, including, racism, etc. The article also made a conclusion on how weight bias and stigma lead to a reduction in a healthcare provider’s capability to be focused on the patient when having an interaction with other patients that causes an impact on the quality and quantity of care provided, and to the compliance of the patient. Another finding suggests that the negative attitude of healthcare providers is linked with reduced mental health results for patients suffering from obesity as the healthcare providers such as physicians might over-attribute the signs and symptoms as well as the issues of obesity and even have failed to further refer the patient for advanced tests or for considering other treatment alternatives other than giving advice to the patient on losing their weights (Eisenberg, Noria, Grover, Goodpaster & Rogers, 2019).
In the third article “Weight Bias: A Hidden Stigma”, the research was carried out on women suffering from obesity and around 69 percent of women reported that doctors as one of the major sources of their weight bias. However, in the article “Weight Bias: A Hidden Stigma” the research topic is not clear and it seems mixed as other than focusing on the women the authors also focus that men are also vulnerable towards weight stigma (Puhl, 2014). However, the discussion on the negative weight-associated attitudes and stigmas to patients suffering from obesity within healthcare professionals is common in “Weight Bias: A Hidden Stigma” and “Health professionals discrimination against obese people in Canada”. The methodology used is based on national samples for assessing the relevant causes behind obesity among patients, thought behind treating compliance as well as its rate of success among individuals suffering from obesity (Finnell, 2018).
The healthcare providers have a negative attitude towards obesity as discussed in the third article which also suggested that patients suffering from obesity have felt a sense of disrespect, not so welcoming attitude and inadequacy which in turn affect them negatively in terms of their encounter with quality of care and their willingness in seeking required care. The author seems to acknowledge that it is very relevant that when the vast majority of healthcare providers are focusing to give compassionate care, several have a glared blind spot considering the topic of weight (Nazione, 2015). Another noteworthy finding is that this blind spot is impacting the physical well being of the patient and is also the main obstruction for patients suffering from higher weights towards access to quality care (Puhl, 2014). The author also addresses the increasing level of obesity recommendations is causing an issue within the increased actions which would be taken as a threat by most of the patients. Additionally, the real physical setting, as well as the equipment available within the healthcare environments are not well fitted to the patients with higher obesity levels hence, it makes them feel more disrespectful and unwelcome. Moreover, the article has done a respectable job in terms of a qualitative study to explain the reason behind how and why the negative implicit, as well as explicit weight stigma and bias within the healthcare providers, pose an impact on the patient’s experience and the results (Parker, Larkin & Cockburn, 2018).
Comparatively, the second article is a critical qualitative review while the other two articles are based on the quantitative method, which has made the comparison between the three articles really difficult even though the articles are very complementary due to different methods used by their authors. However, the articles support the attribute that healthcare providers have negative implicit and explicit attitude weight bias for patients suffering from obesity. The articles are specific on focusing on the healthcare providers. However, the articles differ in their focus on the patient’s experience. The outcomes of the three articles even if they are similar or different is very alarming (Pearl & Puhl, 2018).
Summary
This study is intended to discuss the perspectives of different articles on weight bias and stigma and healthcare provider’s discrimination towards it. Considering the articles, there are several relevant treatment modalities for every patient and the healthcare provider must use their own judgments to select between the most feasible options. The real decision in terms of appropriateness of a particular process or action should be carried out by the healthcare provider depending on the circumstances. Hence, any type of approach that varies from the above statement, does not necessarily have the implication that any approach is lower than the quality of care. Contrary to this, a conscientious healthcare provider should responsibly practice any action different from reasonable judgment is suggested through the patient’s obesity condition.
Changing negative perspectives and stigmas of the patients suffering from obesity among healthcare providers may end up being a challenge as these stigmas and weight bias are profoundly embedded in our way of life just as in medicine. Challenges to appropriately address obesity in a sensitive and non-critical way can demonstrate disappointment for the healthcare provider and for the patient. By carrying out basic improvements in the manner by which providers treat is instructed and changes in the manner by which they get proceeding with clinical training planning to make progressively treatment unbiased and the healthcare providers should increasingly inclined to treat this population and to make positive improvements in the general health of these people’s lives.
References
Alberga, A., Russell-Mayhew, S., von Ranson, K., & McLaren, L. (2016). Weight bias: a call to action. Journal Of Eating Disorders, 4(1). doi: 10.1186/s40337-016-0112-4
Carels, R., Hinman, N., Hoffmann, D., Burmeister, J., Borushok, J., Marx, J., & Ashrafioun, L. (2014). Implicit bias about weight and weight loss treatment outcomes. Eating Behaviors, 15(4), 648-653. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.08.026
Derfel, A. (2019). Canadian health professionals discriminate against obese people: survey. Montreal Gazette. Retrieved from https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/canadian-health-professionals-discriminate-against-obese-people-survey
Eisenberg, D., Noria, S., Grover, B., Goodpaster, K., & Rogers, A. (2019). ASMBS position statement on weight bias and stigma. Surgery For Obesity And Related Diseases, 15(6), 814-821. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.04.031
Finnell, D. (2018). A call to action: Managing the neural pathway of disgust, bias, prejudice, and discrimination that fuels stigma. Substance Abuse, 39(4), 399-403. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2019.1576091
Nazione, S. (2015). Slimming down medical provider weight bias in an obese nation. Medical Education, 49(10), 954-955. doi: 10.1111/medu.12793
Parker, R., Larkin, T., & Cockburn, J. (2018). Gender Bias in Medical Images Affects Students’ Implicit but not Explicit Gender Attitudes. AERA Open, 4(3), 233285841879883. doi: 10.1177/2332858418798832
Pearl, R., & Puhl, R. (2018). Weight bias internalization and health: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 19(8), 1141-1163. doi: 10.1111/obr.12701
Phelan, S., Burgess, D., Yeazel, M., Hellerstedt, W., Griffin, J., & van Ryn, M. (2015). Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity. Obesity Reviews, 16(4), 319-326. doi: 10.1111/obr.12266
Puhl, R. (2014). Weight Bias: A Hidden Stigma. Retrieved 22 February 2020, from https://healthmanagement.org/c/healthmanagement/issuearticle/weight-bias-a-hidden-stigma