Phelan, S M

We assessed associations of pediatrician demographic characteristics with patient satisfaction (PS) scores. We performed a retrospective analysis of PS scores among pediatricians at a single academic institution and their associations with individual demographic features including gender, race, and geographic location of medical school education. We analyzed PS survey results for 153 pediatricians, 48.4% of whom were female. Males received higher scores in 4 out of 10 questions including “Likelihood of your recommending this care provider to others” ( P = .007). We observed similar findings for white pediatricians compared to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) ( P = .033) and US medical school graduates compared to international school graduates ( P = .044). Overall, we observed that pediatricians who are female, BIPOC, or international medical school graduates receive lower PS scores than their counterparts. The impact of potential survey responder bias should be acknowledged when interpreting PS scores for pediatricians.

SummaryThe goal of this study was to ascertain the effect of patient body size on clinic‐ or patient‐delayed health care during the COVID‐19 pandemic and factors predicting delay. Primary survey data were collected in August 2021 from 3593 individuals living within the communities near Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Florida. More people who identified with the higher‐weight BMI categories reported having their care appointments cancelled (62.3%) compared to those who identified with normative weight (38.0%) or underweight (47.7%; p < .001) and reported more frequently delaying their own care (67.9%) relative to those who identified with normative weight (47.0%) or underweight (62.3%; p < .001). Higher‐weight people were more likely than others to report delay was due to not knowing where to get care (UW: 5.6%, NW: 3.5%, HW: 7.0%, pchi‐square < .001), worrying about weight‐based judgement (UW: 2.1%, NW: 2.1%, HW: 4.5%, pchi‐square < .001), and fearing discrimination (UW: 2.9%, NW: 2.4%, HW: 5.5%, pchi‐square < .001). There was no difference across groups in delay due to fear of COVID‐19 exposure. Weight gain was associated with care delay in higher‐weight and normative weight groups. Having experienced more patient‐centred care pre‐COVID was associated with less care delay in the normative weight group, but more care delay in other groups. Higher‐weight people were more likely to have their care delayed by health care providers and to delay care themselves. Patient weight gain and concerns about discrimination and judgement about weight gain may have driven the delay of needed care during COVID‐19.

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the experience of interracial anxiety among health professionals and how it may affect the quality of their interactions with patients from racially marginalized populations. We explored the influence of prior interracial exposure—specifically through childhood neighborhoods, college student bodies, and friend groups—on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents. We also examined whether levels of interracial anxiety change from medical school through residency.Data SourceWeb‐based longitudinal survey data from the Medical Student Cognitive Habits and Growth Evaluation Study.Study DesignWe used a retrospective longitudinal design with four observations for each trainee. The study population consisted of non‐Black US medical trainees surveyed in their 1st and 4th years of medical school and 2nd and 3rd years of residency. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess predictors of interracial anxiety and assess changes in interracial anxiety scores over time.Principal FindingsIn total, 3155 non‐Black medical trainees were followed for 7 years. Seventy‐eight percent grew up in predominantly White neighborhoods. Living in predominantly White neighborhoods and having less racially diverse friends were associated with higher levels of interracial anxiety among medical trainees. Trainees' interracial anxiety scores did not substantially change over time; interracial anxiety was highest in the 1st year of medical school, lowest in the 4th year, and increased slightly during residency.ConclusionsNeighborhood and friend group composition had independent effects on interracial anxiety, indicating that premedical racial socialization may affect medical trainees' preparedness to interact effectively with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the lack of substantial change in interracial anxiety throughout medical training suggests the importance of providing curricular tools and structure (e.g., instituting interracial cooperative learning activities) to foster the development of healthy interracial relationships.

AbstractEnvironments that are hostile to one or more marginalized groups are known to have a negative effect on the mental health and well‐being of both targets and observers. Anti‐fat attitudes have been well documented in medical education, including the use of derogatory humor and discriminatory treatment toward higher‐weight patients. However, to date, it is not known what effect observing weight stigma and discrimination during medical school has on medical students’ psychological health and wellbeing, sense of belonging, and medical school burnout. The present study surveyed a total of 3994 students enrolled across 49 US medical schools at the start of their first year and at the end of their fourth year. Participants reported the frequency with which they had observed stigmatizing and discriminatory behaviors targeted at both higher‐weight patients and higher‐weight students during their four years of medical school. Observed weight stigma was prevalent, and was associated with worse psychological and general health, reduced medical school belonging and increased medical school burnout. The indirect effects of observed weight stigma on medical school burnout, via belonging, psychological health, and general health, were statistically significant in the sample as a whole, but were more pronounced in higher‐weight students. This effect may be explained, in part, by the relationship between observed stigma and medical school belonging. Higher levels of observed stigma were associated with reduced feelings of belonging in higher‐weight but not normative‐weight students. Top‐down institutional culture change is needed to rectify this situation, which is detrimental to both students and patients.

AbstractObjectiveObesity is stigmatized and people with obesity report experiencing stigmatizing situations when seeking health care. The implications of these experiences are not well understood. This study tests an indirect effects model of negative care experiences as an intermediate variable between obesity and care avoidance/utilization and switching primary care doctors.MethodsA survey was completed by 2380 primary care patients in the Learning Health Systems Network (LHSNet) Clinical Data Research Network with a BMI >25 kg/m2. Measures included scales assessing stigmatizing situations, perceived patient‐centered communication, perceived respect, having delayed needed care, and having looked for a new primary doctor in the past 12 months. Sequential and serial indirect effects of care experiences and respect in the association between BMI and care utilization outcomes was modeled.ResultsThe hypothesized model was supported by findings. The associations between BMI and delaying needed care (OR = 1.06, p < 0.001) and attempting to switch primary doctors (OR = 1.02, p = 0.04) was mediated by both stigmatizing situations experienced in a health care context and lower patient‐centered communication. Lower perceived respect mediated the association between care experiences and utilization outcomes.ConclusionsPeople with higher BMIs may avoid care or switch doctors as a result of stigmatizing experiences and poor communication with doctors. These outcomes may contribute to morbidity in people with obesity if they delay or avoid care for health concerns when symptoms first present.

SummaryObjectiveWeight perception and degree of confidence in achieving healthy lifestyle can be determinants of engagement in obesity interventions. This study explored patients' perceived need for weight loss and the degree of self‐confidence in ability to lose weight and sought to identify factors associated with patients' self‐confidence in ability to lose weight.MethodsThe authors analysed data from a survey mailed to primary care patients within five sites of the Learning Health Systems Network that explored participants' prior experience with weight management.ResultsAmong the 2,263 participants who completed the survey section on ‘Patients’ Experience with Weight Management’, perceived need to lose 51 lb or more was statistically significant among those with class III obesity compared with other body mass index (BMI) groups (p value < 0.001). Reported desire to lose weight was also significantly higher among those with the highest BMI than those who were overweight (p value < 0.001). However, this same group had the lowest belief in ability to lose weight (p value < 0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, female gender, higher BMI and need to lose >10 lb were each independently associated with less belief in being able to lose weight.ConclusionsPatients had varying perceptions on weight loss; those with category III obesity had the highest desire to lose weight but had the least confidence in ability to lose weight. Higher BMI, female gender and need to lose >10 lb were associated with decreased self‐confidence in ability to lose weight.

Summary Objective Patient–provider communication has been found to be less patient centred, on average, with patients who are members of stigmatized or minority groups. Obesity is a stigmatized condition, and thus, people with obesity may experience less patient‐centred communication (PCC). The objective of this study was to assess the association between patient body mass index (BMI) and self‐reported quality of PCC experienced over a 12‐month period and whether that relationship differed for men and women. Methods Data collected for the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey were analysed. Respondents who reported a BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m 2 and indicated having seen a healthcare provider outside of an emergency room in the last 12 months were included. PCC was measured using a validated six‐item scale. Multivariate logistic regression was used to model the odds of reporting PCC greater than the sample median. Results Compared with people with normal weight BMIs, no associations were found between overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 0.84, p = 0.17), class I & II obesity (OR = 0.94, p = 0.68) or class III obesity (OR = 0.86, p = 0.47) and PCC. There was a significant interaction ( p = 0.015) such that for men, but not women, higher BMI was associated with less PCC. Conclusion Unlike evidence that women experience more weight stigma, in the healthcare domain, men may be at elevated risk of experiencing communication influenced by weight stigma.