Dying for a Diagnosis: The Impact of Racial Discrimination in Healthcare

Location

Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican University of California

Start Date

4-20-2017 3:00 PM

End Date

4-20-2017 4:00 PM

Student Type

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor(s)

Maggie Benedict-Montgomery, Ph.D.

Presentation Format

Poster Presentation

Abstract/Description

Discrimination is the act of negatively behaving towards a person or group of people due to the social group these individuals belong to. Although, as a society we like to believe that discrimination does not occur as often as it does, it can take many forms that we can be oblivious to. As a healthcare provider, one is held to a higher standard that many often forget that are still human susceptible to the same vices. Discrimination in healthcare is a topic that many are not aware of the prevalence in our healthcare system. It might seem that the societal perceptions of different ethnic groups would not affect the healthcare sector but it does. A goal of this undergraduate study will be to determine whether or not there is an impact on the psyche of healthcare providers that engage in conscious or subconscious discrimination. Another goal of this research study is see if discrimination in healthcare affects patient’s overall care. The current study will examine if unconscious biases have an affect on whether or not certain patients receive full scope treatment. The study proposes that racial discrimination affects the kind of treatment patients receive thus leading to alarming health disparities between majority and minority group members. The study aims to reveal the psychological nature of discrimination and how covert discrimination is the main culprit behind the differences in medical treatments received from healthcare providers. Empathy and personality scales will be used to measure whether or not covert discrimination is present in those trying to enter the healthcare field.

Participants will be anonymously surveyed about their personality characteristics, (the Big 5), then given a vignette about a patient and asked further questions on how likely the participant would be to treat the patient and the speed in which they would administer pain medication if at all.

A diverse sample of students in healthcare related majors at a small private liberal arts school will be recruited for the study. The study will be an online study that will utilize the Big Five Inventory, the Jefferson Scale and some original questions.

It is hypothesized that due to subconscious biases that are perpetuated by society, the patients of color (African American) are more likely to be given less treatment as opposed to Caucasian and Non-Stated race patients or thought to be exaggerating their medical experiences (level of pain) by the healthcare providers (healthcare related majoring students).

Findings in this study are intended to broaden the awareness of racial discrimination in healthcare and how negative stereotypes of certain ethnic groups effects every aspect of life including the receiving of health care.

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Apr 20th, 3:00 PM Apr 20th, 4:00 PM

Dying for a Diagnosis: The Impact of Racial Discrimination in Healthcare

Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican University of California

Discrimination is the act of negatively behaving towards a person or group of people due to the social group these individuals belong to. Although, as a society we like to believe that discrimination does not occur as often as it does, it can take many forms that we can be oblivious to. As a healthcare provider, one is held to a higher standard that many often forget that are still human susceptible to the same vices. Discrimination in healthcare is a topic that many are not aware of the prevalence in our healthcare system. It might seem that the societal perceptions of different ethnic groups would not affect the healthcare sector but it does. A goal of this undergraduate study will be to determine whether or not there is an impact on the psyche of healthcare providers that engage in conscious or subconscious discrimination. Another goal of this research study is see if discrimination in healthcare affects patient’s overall care. The current study will examine if unconscious biases have an affect on whether or not certain patients receive full scope treatment. The study proposes that racial discrimination affects the kind of treatment patients receive thus leading to alarming health disparities between majority and minority group members. The study aims to reveal the psychological nature of discrimination and how covert discrimination is the main culprit behind the differences in medical treatments received from healthcare providers. Empathy and personality scales will be used to measure whether or not covert discrimination is present in those trying to enter the healthcare field.

Participants will be anonymously surveyed about their personality characteristics, (the Big 5), then given a vignette about a patient and asked further questions on how likely the participant would be to treat the patient and the speed in which they would administer pain medication if at all.

A diverse sample of students in healthcare related majors at a small private liberal arts school will be recruited for the study. The study will be an online study that will utilize the Big Five Inventory, the Jefferson Scale and some original questions.

It is hypothesized that due to subconscious biases that are perpetuated by society, the patients of color (African American) are more likely to be given less treatment as opposed to Caucasian and Non-Stated race patients or thought to be exaggerating their medical experiences (level of pain) by the healthcare providers (healthcare related majoring students).

Findings in this study are intended to broaden the awareness of racial discrimination in healthcare and how negative stereotypes of certain ethnic groups effects every aspect of life including the receiving of health care.