Upward bound students' experience with bias in healthcare: An application of critical race theory.
Elizabeth Hilliard, Brittany Twiss, Michelle Pearson
PMID 37194656WHAT IT FOUND
Students described healthcare bias through three themes: communication barriers where they felt unheard, invisibility when cultural practices or wait times were ignored, and a belief that patients must know their rights to get care.
These experiences highlight how language, culture, and age intersect to create mistrust.
Key findings
01Communication barriers, particularly regarding native language and interpreter use, led students to feel unheard and disrespected during healthcare visits.
02Students experienced 'invisibility' through the devaluation of their parents' professional skills, forced removal of cultural attire like hijabs, and being left waiting in emergency rooms.
03Participants believed that understanding and advocating for one's own healthcare rights was a patient responsibility, without which care might be inadequate.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study involved a small, voluntary sample of 26 students from a specific program, which may not represent the broader adolescent population. The focus group format may have suppressed quieter voices, with only dominant participants contributing to the discussion. One researcher was the academic coordinator for the program, which may have influenced student openness or behavior. The researchers identified as White and middle-class, which could have created a power dynamic affecting the depth of shared experiences.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest and report no funding for the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence of specific interventions that reduce bias. The study describes patient experiences of bias but does not test any strategies to mitigate it, so it cannot prove what works to improve care.