Codesigning medical curriculum learning outcomes with experts and people with lived experience to prepare future doctors to prevent and manage overweight and obesity in children

Introduction:
Patient involvement in healthcare education improves students’ communication skills, compassion and patient-centred care. These skills may be particularly important for conditions like overweight and obesity in children, where stigma and bias remain pervasive. Through consultation with experts working in the field of obesity in children and people with lived experience of obesity, this study aimed to develop learning outcomes (LOs) about overweight and obesity in children and adolescents for medical curricula.

Methods:
A multi-phase research methodology was employed, utilising a modified Delphi technique with a panel of experts in overweight and obesity in children and a survey of Australian people with lived experience of obesity to identify learning priorities. The final LOs were refined through collaborative constructive iteration, including virtual bulletin board reviews and modified nominal group technique sessions.

Results:
The study identified key LOs that the research team recommend all medical students should achieve by graduation. While both experts and people with lived experience felt it was important to recognise overweight and obesity as a critical child health issue in medical curricula, there were notable differences in the LOs prioritised by the two groups. In general, experts prioritised evidence-based knowledge and technical skills, such as the use of body mass index (BMI) and growth charts, while individuals with lived experience emphasised communication skills and addressing weight stigma.

Conclusion:
The findings highlight the importance of integrating diverse perspectives in curriculum design to better prepare medical students to work with children and adolescents with obesity and their families. By incorporating both expert knowledge and lived experiences, the proposed learning outcomes aim to equip future doctors with the skills needed to provide effective and empathetic care. Implementing these LOs in medical education curricula has the potential to improve the quality of care for children and adolescents with obesity.