Social Marketing Projects: A Novel Approach to Encourage Increasing Knowledge Around Obesity While Promoting Advocacy

Abstract

OPEN ACCESSFebruary 13, 2014Social Marketing Projects: A Novel Approach to Encourage Increasing Knowledge Around Obesity While Promoting Advocacy Heather Lochnan, MD, Brendan Irish Heather Lochnan, MD University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Brendan Irish University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.9713 SectionsAbout ToolsDownload Citations ShareFacebookTwitterEmail AbstractAbstractIntroduction: Educational strategies in regard to obesity should include initiatives that promote advocacy for social change, as well as sensitivity to individuals. Yet advocacy, like empathy, is a difficult concept to assess formally. Methods: This resource describes how to establish a project for medical students designed to promote and assess their appreciation of the medical and psychosocial effects of obesity. Included are project descriptions and an evaluative tool that can be adapted to alternate populations or for local context. For the project, students design components of a public service campaign to change societal views on obesity and obese individuals, using whatever choice of medium they prefer (e.g., a jingle, song, poem, skit, or video). At the end of the week, presentations are made to the class and a panel of judges (two faculty members and two third-year medical students). The judges assess students' competency using evaluation criteria that take into consideration the message, presentation, and social-marketing plan. Results: Students produced insightful projects that demonstrated sensitivity and an understanding of complex issues surrounding obesity within our society. Discussion: Small-group projects framed as social marketing campaigns present an innovative strategy for assessing medical student competency in advocacy. Similar approaches could be adopted by other medical schools to assess advocacy as part of their obesity curricula or could potentially be applied to evaluate advocacy as it relates to the health of other marginalized populations or public health concerns. Educational Objectives By the end of this resource, learners should be able to: Demonstrate how they, as future medical professionals, can lessen the social stigma of obesity through their words and actions.Outline specific recommendations to individuals and families regarding the prevention, management, and complications of obesity, including stigma and discrimination.Advocate for social changes to promote the achievement of a healthy weight, increase sensitivity to obese individuals, and encourage access to health care resources without instilling shame or blame.Gain confidence working in teams, managing time, and presenting to an audience. Sign up for the latest publications from MedEdPORTAL Add your email below FILES INCLUDEDReferencesRelatedDetails FILES INCLUDED Included in this publication: Instructor's Guide.docx Introduction.docx Key Objectives.docx Project Description Handout.docx Group Project Submission Form.docx Judges Score Card.doc Compilation of Scores Chart.docx Obesity Resources and References.doc Specific to Advocacy in Relation to Obesity.docx To view all publication components, extract (i.e., unzip) them from the downloaded .zip file. Download editor’s noteThis publication may contain technology or a display format that is no longer in use. Copyright & Permissions© 2014 Lochnan and Irish. This is an open-access publication distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license.KeywordsObesityActivities of Daily LivingEmpathyGroup ProjectsPatient AdvocacyHealth Equity ResearchAdvocacy Disclosures None to report. Funding/Support None to report. Loading ...