Implicit bias toward cervical cancer: Provider and training differences.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Disparities
• Medical Psychology

Background:

• Implicit biases and stereotypes can unconsciously affect healthcare providers' actions.
• These biases may negatively impact patient outcomes, particularly in sensitive areas like gynecologic oncology.
• Understanding provider biases is crucial for equitable patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate implicit prejudice and stereotyping among gynecologic oncology care providers concerning cervical cancer.
• To compare implicit biases towards cervical cancer versus ovarian cancer.
• To identify factors that may moderate these implicit biases.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of gynecologic oncology professionals completed two Implicit Association Tests.
• The tests assessed implicit associations of cervical cancer with anger (prejudice) and culpability (stereotypes).
• Statistical analyses, including linear models and t-tests, were used to evaluate bias levels and moderators.

Main Results:

• Gynecologic oncology providers demonstrated significant implicit prejudice (mean=0.17) and stereotyping (mean=0.15) toward cervical cancer patients.
• Nurses exhibited higher levels of implicit prejudice and stereotyping compared to physicians.
• Providers who had not undergone cultural competency or implicit bias training showed greater bias.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to document implicit biases among gynecologic oncology providers regarding cervical cancer.
• Findings indicate a need for targeted interventions, especially for nurses and those without bias training.
• Addressing these implicit biases is essential for enhancing patient interactions and care quality.