You May Also Like Implicit bias occurs when a well-intended physician’s unconscious assumptions get in the way of objectively gathering or assessing a patient.
Some Black patients complain of:
– Patients of other races receiving better treatment
– Rushed/Less time in doctor visits
– Confusing/Conflicting diagnoses
– Doctors less likely to agree with second opinions Dr. Elizabeth Chapman, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin, wrote in the Journal of General Internal Medicine that implicit bias among physicians impacts clinical decision-making that perpetuates disparities, even when they strive to deliver equal care.
Physician burnout among resident physicians could potentially be linked to racial bias, according to the results of a 2017 study published in Jama Network Open.
“Overall, resident physicians who had at least 1 symptom of burnout had lower mean scores toward black people compared with those without symptoms of burnout,” the researchers write.
These results suggest that black patients may not be receiving the same level of care that white patients receive, further widening the racial gap in the United States.