Objective: Providers need to address our own implicit biases and collective failures as a healthcare system before we can build an equitable healthcare space. The purpose of the Quality Improvement project that was performed was to understand whether a series of workshops for students, residents, and faculty increases awareness and engagement in addressing biases and policies that perpetuate inequity. The objective of this workshop is to relate the relevance of the current health climate to individuals, practices, and institutions to support curriculum development with the aim of promoting change on individual, institutional, and societal levels.
Methods: Over the course of the 2021-2022 academic year, participants at a single academic medical center engaged in 3 workshops addressing racial disparities in maternal and child health. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention surveys, and results were analyzed using paired t-tests and inductive thematic analysis for open-ended questions. This study was IRB exempt (IRB #2002288-01).
Results: 74 participants completed pre-intervention surveys and 36 completed post-intervention surveys. Although 70.5% of participants had previously participated in anti-racism training, there was a lack of knowledge regarding historical context and current factors contributing to disparities. There was a statistically significant difference in participants understanding that African American patients in our community experience higher rates of infant mortality than non-African Americans after participation. Participants were also more likely to understand that, while infant mortality rates are improving, the racial disparity is worsening.
Conclusion/ Discussion: To address racial disparities in maternal and infant health, providers must understand historical and current factors contributing to the disparity. This workshop series provided a forum for participants who may not otherwise engage to better understand the relevance of the current situation to their practice, and can be built upon in the future to promote change on individual, institutional, and societal levels.
Topics: Faculty Development Seminar, 2023, Resident, Faculty, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, GME, UME,
