In this previously recorded webinar, Addressing Implicit Bias to Improve Patient Care, you'll hear our panelists review cultural differences and discuss characteristics of culturally competent care. We will also explore differences between implicit and explicit bias, and how implicit bias may impact patient care. Our panelists will also review strategies to increase awareness of implicit bias and minimize the negative effects.
This course is designed for members of the interprofessional healthcare team who may intervene to identify and address implicit biasescare order to improve patient care.
The purpose of this course is to define and explore implicit and explicit bias and to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent implicit bias from negatively impacting patient care.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Describe the differences between implicit and explicit bias.
- Explain the effects of implicit bias on patient outcomes and how biases can lead to disparities in healthcare.
- Review strategies to uncover implicit bias and minimize its negative effects.
- Identify three patient-specific cultural considerations to provide tailored and respectful care.
- Describe the process of developing cultural competency to improve patient care.
Sara Klockars, PharmD, BCPS, is an Associate Editor at Prescriber Insights and Pharmacist’s Letter. She earned her PharmD degree from Ohio Northern University. She then completed two years of clinical pharmacy residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. Prior to coming to Prescriber Insights and Pharmacist’s Letter in 2019, Sara was a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Kaiser Permanente Colorado working alongside prescribers and pharmacists in an integrated healthcare system. She spent 12 years as part of the Primary Care team and built a practice in Dermatology, where she practiced for 4 years prior to joining TRC. In addition to dermatology, Sara’s professional interests include pharmacist and prescriber education, promoting evidence-based, cost-effective care, and other specialty pharmacy areas (rheumatology, gastroenterology, etc.).
Reid Blackwelder, MD, FAAFP,
Stephen Carek, MD, CAQSM, DipABLM,
Andrea Darby-Stewart, MD,
Craig Williams, PharmD, FNLA, BCPS,
Contributing faculty, Sara Klockars, PharmD, BCPS, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Contributing faculty, Reid Blackwelder, MD, FAAFP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Contributing faculty, Stephen Carek, MD, CAQSM, DipABLM, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Contributing faculty, Andrea Darby-Stewart, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Contributing faculty, Craig Williams, PharmD, FNLA, BCPS, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Sarah Campbell
The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.
It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
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The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.
Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.
#24-689: Addressing Implicit Bias to Improve Patient Care
It is clear that most people in the general population hold implicit biases, and health professionals are no different. While there continue to be controversies regarding the nature, dynamics, and etiology of implicit biases, it should not be ignored as a contributor to health disparities, patient dissatisfaction, and suboptimal care. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of this phenomenon, the solutions to raise individuals' awareness and reduce implicit bias are diverse and evolving.
Before viewing this webinar, pleae take time to consider the following statements and rank your level of agreement using the following scale:
Strongly Agree: 6 points; Agree: 5 points; Somewhat Agree: 4 points; Somewhat Disagree: 3 points; Disagree: 2 points; Strongly Disagree: 1 point
Everyone has implicit bias.
Bias is a part of my subconscious.
Bias is pervasive in the health care system.
Implicit bias is deeply rooted to positive and negative stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, motives, and decisions we make on a daily basis.
I have a specific plan to overcome biases that show up when interacting with patients.
Make a note of your total score. (These questions have been adapted from an assessment developed by the Center for Black Educator Development.)
Learners should engage with the webinar, below, and the provided resources to explore the topics covered in this course.
The following webinar, produced by NetCE, provides a discussion of the implicit bias and its impact on patient care.
Before viewing this webinar, you rated your agreement with the following statements. Consider these statements once again and compare your scores.
Strongly Agree: 6 points; Agree: 5 points; Somewhat Agree: 4 points; Somewhat Disagree: 3 points; Disagree: 2 points; Strongly Disagree: 1 point
Everyone has implicit bias.
Bias is a part of my subconscious.
Bias is pervasive in the health care system.
Implicit bias is deeply rooted to positive and negative stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, motives, and decisions we make on a daily basis.
I have a specific plan to overcome biases that show up when interacting with patients.
Has your understanding, feelings, and/or appreciation changed?
Implicit bias and culturally responsive health care are complex subjects. The following resources are provided in the event that you are interested in further exploring the topic, or even trying some of the approaches discussed in this webinar.
| EthnoMed |
| https://ethnomed.org |
| Project Implicit |
| https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit |
| National Implicit Bias Network |
| https://implicitbias.net/resources/resources-by-category |
| University of California, Los Angeles |
| Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Implicit Bias |
| https://equity.ucla.edu/know/implicit-bias |
| University of California, San Francisco, Office of Diversity and Outreach |
| Unconscious Bias Resources |
| https://diversity.ucsf.edu/resources/unconscious-bias-resources |
| Unconscious Bias Project |
| https://unconsciousbiasproject.org |
Mention of commercial products does not indicate endorsement.