Weight Bias Reducation Intervention With Nursing Students Using Simulation: The BRAVE Study

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Weight Bias

In brief

This randomized controlled trial will be a curriculum-embedded weight sensitivity training program. There will be two groups. The control group will receive the standard obesity lecture (SOL) and the intervention group will receive the BRAVE Intervention (BRAVE: Building Respect and Acceptance through Valuing Everybody); a Weight Bias Reduction (WBR) intervention. Both groups will have two simulation encounters with standardized patients who are living with obesity and the outcome will be to improve weight bias and increase weight sensitivity over one year. Participants will include second- and fourth-year nursing students. Two cohorts of nursing students will be recruited over two years during orientation for their NUR courses (n = 368); a combined total of 420 students are typically enrolled in these courses. Study participants will be randomized by 8-person simulation groups (clusters) to either the BRAVE intervention or SOL control group. They will then participate in the two simulation-based experiences and weight bias reduction education or standard obesity lecture, respectively, with a debriefing segment and educational components. To compare the efficacy of BRAVE groups to SOL groups in validated questionnaires will assess changing attitudes, beliefs, and clinical communication behaviors when comparing baseline to 3 months post-intervention, and one year after the intervention.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07334470

Run by

Villanova University

People needed

368

Starts

2026-01-12

Expected to finish

2028-05-20

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Nursing students aged 18-35
• Nursing students during their second or fourth year of the traditional or FLEX BSN undergraduate curriculum (in specified nursing courses)

You may not qualify if…

• Non-nursing students
• Nursing students taking courses out of the normal curriculum sequence
• Nursing students who are not of traditional undergraduate ages (18-35 years)
• Students who decline to consent

Where it is running

• Villanova University — Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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