We need greater awareness of unconscious bias in healthcare

Even when we’re not aware of it, we all make judgments about other people, whether it pertains to their appearance, financial status, how they communicate, etc. This is known as unconscious bias. The saying “first impressions are lasting impressions” exists because we tend to make quick assumptions upon meeting others.

Unfortunately, that judgment can also occur in healthcare settings — sometimes directly affecting a patient’s care and treatment. It’s important to be aware of unconscious bias — in both yourself and others — to ensure you’re getting quality care.

The 360training website shares several examples of unconscious bias in healthcare. For example, implicit biases may result in women’s pain not being taken as seriously as men’s, Black patients not being listened to, and older patients receiving inadequate care.

According to the article, “Research indicates that female patients are perceived as more emotional or anxious, which impacts how seriously their medical team takes their symptoms.” This can delay proper diagnosis and treatment, potentially putting a woman’s health at risk.

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In addition, “A 2012 study found that primary care physicians tended to dominate conversations with Black patients during routine visits, while white patients tended to receive more patient-centered care. As a result, Black patients rated their care more poorly than white patients.” Every patient’s concerns deserve to be heard.

The article also notes that, “Healthcare workers are more likely to discount an older patient’s opinion or leave pain and discomfort untreated because they’re considered normal for the age group.” This dismissal can have serious consequences for older adults.

These are only a few examples of how unconscious bias can prevent a patient from receiving quality healthcare. It’s important for medical professionals to recognize any biases they hold and make a conscious effort to not let these judgments interfere with the care they provide.

In turn, we as patients should be aware of any ways we may be judging our providers and do our best to put aside these biases.

My own experience

I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in 2009 and went into remission in 2010. Six years later, in 2016, I went to the doctor for a routine six-month checkup and found out I was no longer in remission. At the same time, I was also diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

I knew I needed a great specialist to help me get past this hurdle. My last one had moved out of state and wasn’t easily accessible. Therefore, my family and I decided to gather second opinions from many different specialists. From there, we’d select the one who best fit my needs.

I knew I wanted a doctor who was passionate about blood disorders and cared about what mattered to me. Meeting different doctors involved many first impressions. These visits were nerve-wracking, as I wanted to make sure I gave each physician all the information they needed to understand me and my rare blood disorders.

Unconscious bias was present in each meeting; it’s just the reality of the situation. I was unconsciously judging the doctors in front of me, and they were unconsciously judging me. I noticed how they spoke, what they wore, and how quickly they answered my questions. Based on these perceptions, I questioned if they truly knew how to help me.

I don’t know what the doctors thought about me, but I wondered if any of them were unconsciously judging me based on my appearance, being a Black woman, my financial status, not being fully educated on my disorders, or not having family members or friends with me for support.

Through all of these meetings, the main question I had to ask myself was, “Will I let unconscious bias dictate the quality of healthcare I receive?”

It was vital for me to gather relevant information, move past any of my own biases, and carefully consider which doctor seemed best suited to manage my care and help me get back to a somewhat normal routine.

As we navigate our healthcare, it’s crucial to be aware of unconscious bias and how it may be affecting important decisions. As patients, we know what’s best for us!

Note: PNH News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of PNH News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

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