Investigating the Role of Implicit Class Bias in the Clinical Encounter: A Call to Eliminate Health Disparities
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Author
Belz, Brianna Rae
Subject
Washington and Lee University, Shepherd Poverty Program
Social status
Medical care
Discrimination in medical care
Poor
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Capstone; [FULL-TEXT FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE.] Brianna Rae Belz is a member of the Class of 2020 of Washington and Lee University. Despite their explicit commitment to providing equal care, studies suggest that implicit
prejudice and stereotyping can impact the judgment and behavior of healthcare providers when
they interact with stigmatized patients. These implicit biases are associated with undermining of
the patient-provider relationship, lower quality of care, disparate health recommendations, and,
ultimately, unequal patient health outcomes. While implicit biases exist on multiple dimensions
against individuals as members of disadvantaged groups, implicit biases against low
socioeconomic status patients have the broadest scope, yet few studies have fully investigated the
role of implicit class bias. Identifying current approaches and limitations in studies of implicit
class bias is imperative in bridging the gap in social health disparities at the level of the clinical
encounter. [From Introduction] Brie Belz