Addressing Bias in the Occupational Therapy Admissions Process.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare

Background:

• Unconscious bias can influence admissions decisions in health professions programs.
• Increasing diversity in occupational therapy programs is a critical goal for equitable healthcare.
• Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate bias in admissions processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop in reducing unconscious bias among occupational therapy admissions committee members.
• To determine if workshop participation correlates with an increased number of underrepresented students admitted to the program.

Main Methods:

• A convenience sample of 50 admissions committee members participated in an online workshop.
• Pre- and post-workshop surveys assessed perceived bias.
• Statistical analyses, including Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test and chi-square test of independence, were used.

Main Results:

• Workshop participation led to a statistically significant increase in post-test survey scores, indicating reduced perceived bias.
• A significant increase in the enrollment of students from underrepresented groups was observed following the workshop.
• The findings suggest a positive impact of the intervention on both bias reduction and program diversity.

Conclusions:

• Online workshops are a viable strategy for reducing unconscious bias in admissions committees.
• Interventions aimed at bias reduction can contribute to increased diversity in occupational therapy programs.
• This study provides evidence for the efficacy of educational workshops in promoting equitable admissions practices.