Title : “Black people have thicker skin”: How physician bias manifests in medical encounters with African American patients
Abstract:
This research investigates the potential negative influence of provider bias on the medical experiences of African American patients. The background, historical context, Biblical perspective, and theoretical considerations for this social problem are explored. Through a scoping review, encompassing a thorough literature review, data extraction, and data synthesis, four themes emerged. The findings reveal that the presence of implicit bias versus explicit bias, poor communication and comportment and exclusion are the predominant ways provider biases adversely affect the medical experiences of African Americans, furthering the disparity. Key recommendations include incorporating medical social workers into the encounters to support providers and patients. Advocacy and policy reform should also be at the forefront of health equity endeavours. Future research should focus on if the involvement of social workers positively influences the quality of medical experiences for African American patients. The implications are clear, urging policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers to collaboratively work towards providing better support to improve the quality of care for African American patients
