Yale University

Reducing racial bias among health care providers: lessons from social-cognitive psychology.

TitleReducing racial bias among health care providers: lessons from social-cognitive psychology.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsBurgess, Diana, Michelle van Ryn, John Dovidio, and Somnath Saha
JournalJournal of general internal medicine
Volume22
Issue6
Pagination882-7
Date Published2007 Jun
ISSN1525-1497
KeywordsAttitude of Health Personnel, Delivery of Health Care, Health Personnel, Humans, Physician-Patient Relations, Prejudice, Race Relations, Social Perception, Stereotyping
AbstractThe paper sets forth a set of evidence-based recommendations for interventions to combat unintentional bias among health care providers, drawing upon theory and research in social cognitive psychology. Our primary aim is to provide a framework that outlines strategies and skills, which can be taught to medical trainees and practicing physicians, to prevent unconscious racial attitudes and stereotypes from negatively influencing the course and outcomes of clinical encounters. These strategies and skills are designed to: 1) enhance internal motivation to reduce bias, while avoiding external pressure; 2) increase understanding about the psychological basis of bias; 3) enhance providers' confidence in their ability to successfully interact with socially dissimilar patients; 4) enhance emotional regulation skills; and 5) improve the ability to build partnerships with patients. We emphasize the need for programs to provide a nonthreatening environment in which to practice new skills and the need to avoid making providers ashamed of having racial, ethnic, or cultural stereotypes. These recommendations are also intended to provide a springboard for research on interventions to reduce unintentional racial bias in health care.
DOI10.1007/s10995-010-0650-3
Alternate JournalJ Gen Intern Med

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