Weight Bias Reduction for Nursing Students Through Simulation
Official title: The BRAVE Study: A Sensitivity Intervention With Nursing Students Using Simulation
Run by Villanova University · NCT07334470 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized study tests whether a BRAVE simulation program helps second- and fourth-year nursing students reduce weight bias compared with standard obesity education.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 368 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Villanova University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Villanova, Pennsylvania) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 20, 2028 |
| Study ends | May 20, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07334470 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are second- or fourth-year nursing students aged 18–35 enrolled in the specified BSN courses.
✕Probably not a fit
Students who do not complete the program or who do not experience changes in attitudes may not derive benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study assigns nursing students in two cohorts to either BRAVE, a weight bias reduction program delivered with two standardized-patient simulations, or SOL, the usual obesity lecture. Groups are randomized in 8-person simulation clusters and participate in two encounters with standardized patients living with obesity over a one-year period. The goal is to see if the BRAVE program lowers weight bias and increases sensitivity in clinical interactions. Prior evidence suggests attitudes can improve with WBR, but it remains unclear whether these changes translate into sustained clinical behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the BRAVE program could lead to more respectful, unbiased care for patients with obesity and potentially better adherence to preventive care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Weight Bias Reduction work showed favorable attitude changes, but evidence for sustained behavior change in clinical practice is still limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 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) Exclusion Criteria: * 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's running
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Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Tracy L. Oliver, PhD, RDN, LDN
- Email: tracy.oliver@villanova.edu
- Phone: 610-519-4917
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.