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Strategies to Mitigate Clinician Implicit Bias Against Sexual and Gender Minority Patients
Michal J McDowell1, Hilary Goldhammer2, Jennifer E Potter3
1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Background:
Implicit bias is an ingrained, unconscious cultural stereotype that can negatively affect a person's interactions with members of stigmatized groups, including sexual and gender minorities. Clinician implicit biases may negatively impact the quality of patient care.
Methods:
This article uses 4 case scenarios to illustrate how implicit bias among psychiatrists and other clinicians can affect patient-clinician communication and diminish the quality of health care provided to sexual and gender minority people. We offer strategies for clinicians to recognize, challenge, and address implicit bias.
Discussion:
Through continuing education, self-reflection, and practice, psychiatrists and other clinicians can improve communication and foster more affirming care experiences for their sexual and gender minority patients, with the goal of addressing and ultimately eliminating sexual and gender minority health disparities.
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Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
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