TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the Association of Healthcare Worker Race and Occupation with Implicit and Explicit Racial Bias
AU - Tajeu, Gabriel S.
AU - Halanych, Jewell
AU - Juarez, Lucia
AU - Stone, Jeff
AU - Stepanikova, Irena
AU - Green, Alexander
AU - Cherrington, Andrea L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017
PY - 2018/10
Y1 - 2018/10
N2 - Background: Racial bias is associated with suboptimal healthcare treatment for minorities. Research focuses on bias among physicians rather than non-physician healthcare staff (e.g., receptionists). Patients spend considerable amounts of time with non-physician staff. Therefore, we investigate differences in implicit and explicit racial bias by healthcare staff race and occupation using the Implicit Association Test and Modern Racism Scale, respectively. Methods: Staff (n = 107) were recruited using the Alabama based Primary Care Research Coalition. Occupation was categorized into “medical doctors/registered nurses” (MD/RN) and “non-MD/RN” (e.g., receptionists). Results: Implicit bias scores were higher among whites compared with blacks (0.62, −0.04, respectively; p < 0.01). Among whites, non-MD/RNs demonstrated more pro-white implicit bias compared with MD/RNs (0.67, 0.44, respectively; p < 0.01). Whites had higher explicit bias scores than blacks (17.7, 12.3, respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Non-MD/RNs should not be overlooked for cultural competency training, and efforts are needed to reduce racial bias among healthcare workers identified as having higher levels of bias.
AB - Background: Racial bias is associated with suboptimal healthcare treatment for minorities. Research focuses on bias among physicians rather than non-physician healthcare staff (e.g., receptionists). Patients spend considerable amounts of time with non-physician staff. Therefore, we investigate differences in implicit and explicit racial bias by healthcare staff race and occupation using the Implicit Association Test and Modern Racism Scale, respectively. Methods: Staff (n = 107) were recruited using the Alabama based Primary Care Research Coalition. Occupation was categorized into “medical doctors/registered nurses” (MD/RN) and “non-MD/RN” (e.g., receptionists). Results: Implicit bias scores were higher among whites compared with blacks (0.62, −0.04, respectively; p < 0.01). Among whites, non-MD/RNs demonstrated more pro-white implicit bias compared with MD/RNs (0.67, 0.44, respectively; p < 0.01). Whites had higher explicit bias scores than blacks (17.7, 12.3, respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Non-MD/RNs should not be overlooked for cultural competency training, and efforts are needed to reduce racial bias among healthcare workers identified as having higher levels of bias.
KW - Disparities
KW - Explicit bias
KW - Healthcare staff
KW - Implicit bias
KW - Perceived discrimination
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jnma.2017.12.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jnma.2017.12.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 30129512
AN - SCOPUS:85039174102
SN - 0027-9684
VL - 110
SP - 464
EP - 472
JO - Journal of the National Medical Association
JF - Journal of the National Medical Association
IS - 5
ER -