Key result
Family history of T2D and higher BMI linked to worse student attitudes toward T2D patients.
Why the study?
Medical providers may hold negative attitudes toward people with T2D that impact clinical care, but little is known about provider characteristics associated with these attitudes prior to independent practice.
Cross-Sectional (n=88)
p-value: p=0.002
Medical students with a family history of type 2 diabetes or higher BMI may hold more negative attitudes toward patients with type 2 diabetes, highlighting a need for early bias training.
May warrant bias training in medical curricula; leaves open whether attitudes affect care or persist longitudinally.
Introduction and Objective: Prior research shows that medical providers may have more negative attitudes toward people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), which may impact clinical care. Less is known about provider characteristics that may be associated with holding these attitudes before beginning independent practice. This study evaluated how characteristics of medical students may relate to negative attitudes about people with T2D. Methods: Medical students (n= 88, Mage= 26.14, SDage = 3.25) self-reported attitudes toward people with type 2 diabetes. T-tests and linear regression were used to compare diabetes attitudes by demographic (sex, year in medical school, BMI, family history of diabetes, intention to serve as primary care provider) variables. Results: As shown in the table, medical students with a family history of T2D had higher scores on the dislike of caring for people with T2D subscale and the perceived negative norms subscale. Results of regression analyses showed that greater BMI was associated with higher total scores on the perceived norms subscale (p=.002). No other characteristics were significantly associated with negative attitudes. Conclusion: Personal characteristics may shape professional attitudes about people with T2D. Medical students may benefit from early training during medical school to challenge their negative attitudes toward people with T2D. Such trainings may reduce bias and lead to more equitable patient care. Disclosure K.S. Holland: None. R.A. Roope: None. T. Crandell: None. D. Stickel: None. A.M. Subtirelu: None. E. Larsen: None. E.A. Beverly: None. M.N. Baudino: None.
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HOLLAND et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Attitudes toward type 2 diabetes (n=88). Family history of type 2 diabetes and BMI vs. No family history of type 2 diabetes / lower BMI was evaluated on Self-reported attitudes toward people with type 2 diabetes (p=0.002). Medical students with a family history of type 2 diabetes reported greater dislike of caring for such patients, and higher BMI was associated with higher perceived negative norms (p=0.002).
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