Health Care Providers’ Negative Implicit Attitudes and Stereotypes of American Indians

Colin A. Zestcott, Lloyd Spece, Daniel McDermott, Jeff Stone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research suggests that implicit biases held by health care providers may play a role in perpetuating health disparities. However, minimal work has examined the presence of providers’ negative implicit attitudes and stereotypes of American Indians. The current work examined implicit attitudes and stereotypes toward American Indians among 111 health care providers using the Implicit Association Test. Results revealed evidence of negative implicit attitudes toward American Indians. In addition, results showed that providers implicitly stereotype American Indians as noncompliant. This effect was moderated by self-reports of cultural competency and implicit bias training experience such that those reporting cultural competency or implicit bias training reported lower implicit stereotyping than those reporting no cultural competency or implicit bias training. Moreover, medical students reported lower implicit stereotyping than medical residents and practicing physicians. Implications of providers’ implicit biases on treatment of American Indian patients and implicit bias reduction research are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)230-236
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of racial and ethnic health disparities
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • American Indian
  • Attitudes
  • Implicit
  • Stereotypes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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