(P503) Diabetes Stigma: Differences in Perception Between Future Primary and Specialty Care Physicians

Most people with diabetes face stigma, including blame, harmful stereotypes, and social exclusion. Many are unfairly labeled as “weak,” “lazy,” or “gluttons” by healthcare professionals, family, and friends. The most common stigma is the belief that people are responsible for developing their condition. However, minimal research has explored how medical students view type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes or how their views differ by career path. This poster reviews a descriptive, cross-sectional study with medical students of all four years at a large Midwestern medical school to examine differences in perceptions towards T1D and T2D by interest in primary care versus specialty care. The study found that medical students planning to pursue primary care had more positive attitudes toward people with T2D than those planning to specialize. Since primary care doctors provide most diabetes care, this is encouraging, but the results also suggest that medical schools need to do more to reduce diabetes-related stigma across all career paths. Authors: Eric R. Green, BS, Ohio University Diabetes Institute; Kacey M. Whistler, BA, Ohio University; Elizabeth A. Beverly, PhD, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Funding Source: The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.