Efficacy of an intervention to reduce stigma towards people with skin diseases among health and body care professionals - a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

People with skin disease often experience stigmatization in health and body care settings, significantly impacting their quality of life. This parallel-group randomized controlled trial evaluated a face-to-face group seminar aimed at reducing stigma towards people with skin disease among health and body care professionals (HBCPs).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Cosmetologists, hairdressers, nurses, and physical therapists were randomized into an intervention (IG; n = 64) or control group (CG; n = 65). The IG received a seminar consisting of self-awareness exercises, education and a patient encounter; the CG followed a seminar on "health at work". Stereotype agreement, disease-related misconceptions, desire for social distance, and behavioral intentions were assessed at baseline (t0), post-intervention (t1), and 3 months follow-up (t2).

RESULTS

The intervention group showed significant reductions over time in disease-related misconceptions (t0-t1: 0.398, p < 0.001; t0-t2: 0.225, p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12) and in stereotype endorsement (t0-t1: 0.392, p < 0.001; t0-t2: 0.299, p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.12). In both groups, the desire for social distance decreased immediately after the seminar (t0-t1Intervention: 0.186, p < 0.001; t0-t1Control: 0.135, p = 0.012) but returned to baseline at follow-up (t0-t2Intervention: 0.097, p = 0.35; t0-t2Control: 0.016, p = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

The seminar improved skin disease-related stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes of HBCPs. Its integration into vocational training curricula or delivery in workshops to increase knowledge about skin diseases and to reduce prejudices in various professional groups is promising.