RESET
The "RESET" project aims to develop digital tools to reduce weight-related stigmatization in maternity and healthcare and promote respectful, women-centered communication.
Factsheet
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Schools involved
School of Health Professions
School of Social Work
School of Engineering and Computer Science -
Institute(s)
Midwifery
Institute for Specialised Didactics, Profession Development and Digitalisation - Strategic thematic field Thematic field "Caring Society"
- Funding organisation BFH
- Duration (planned) 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2025
- Head of project Dr. Evelyne Aubry
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Project staff
Prof. Dr. Manuel David Bachmann
Prof. Ninetta Scura
Prof. Marcus Hudritsch
Prof. Dr. med. Martin Müller -
Partner
Allianz Adipositas Schweiz
Bias180 - Keywords Obesity, perinatal health, weight stigmatization, virtual reality, maternity, digitalization, discrimination, health care
Situation
The healthcare sector is considered one of the primary sources of stigmatization for people with obesity, which has significant health consequences. Globally, over 60% of those affected report experiencing weight-based discrimination in healthcare settings. Weight-related practices and structural factors within clinics can significantly impair the quality of care. Frequently, stigma from healthcare professionals leads to a lack of respect and a reduced willingness to provide appropriate treatment for people with obesity. This can negatively impacting trust and the quality of care. A lack of awareness of this issue, insufficient legal protections, and gaps in guidelines further exacerbate the situation.
Course of action
We will effectively use e-learning training and immersive technologies to address the issue of weight stigma and highlight the urgent need for change in maternity healthcare. By introducing a fully computer-generated virtual reality (VR) environment for healthcare counseling, we will evaluate its potential to enhance the counseling skills of healthcare professionals working with people with obesity. Additionally, we aim to offer the developed VR tools as an innovative resource for research, training, and evaluation.
Result
This pilot project seeks to develop and evaluate a virtual reality-based intervention designed to assess and enhance healthcare professionals' communication skills when counseling women with obesity. The intervention aims to improve the quality of care, reduce weight-related stigmatization among healthcare professionals and perinatal care institutions, and provide advanced training in stigma-free communication.
Looking ahead
The project will raise awareness of weight-related stigmatization and expand knowledge about unbiased counseling and care. As a result, the project will initiate discussions on weight-related stigmatization in maternity care and healthcare institutions and ultimately advocate for legal protections and appropriate policies for women with obesity.
