Implicit Bias and Health Disparities Education in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neonatology
• Health Equity

Background:

• Implicit bias (IB) and health disparities (HD) significantly impact patient care.
• Understanding the current state of IB and HD education in neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM) is crucial for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize implicit bias (IB) and health disparities (HD) education within neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM).
• To identify current educational opportunities, resources, and barriers related to IB and HD training in NPM.

Main Methods:

• A national web-based survey was distributed to NPM fellows, neonatologists, and frontline providers.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.
• Qualitative data were evaluated through thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Most of the 452 respondents desired additional IB (76%) and HD (83%) education.
• Neonatologists received more IB/HD education than fellows, but only 41% of neonatologists' institutions require IB training.
• Fellows expressed greater dissatisfaction with current IB/HD education due to insufficient time, lack of NPM specificity, and inadequate scope or depth.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant gap between the current delivery of IB/HD education and the needs of the NPM community.
• NPM trainees and neonatologists seek tailored, active, and expert-guided IB and HD education.
• Addressing barriers and developing accessible, NPM-specific curricula with facilitator training is essential for effective IB/HD education.