Responding to Interprofessional Microaggressions: Bystander Training-A Virtual Simulation Curriculum for Internal...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workplace Dynamics
• Bias and Discrimination Studies

Background:

• Discrimination and microaggressions negatively impact healthcare professionals and institutions.
• Medical residents require training to effectively manage bias and microaggressions.
• A needs assessment indicated a demand for curricula addressing these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an adaptable virtual simulation curriculum for residents.
• To enhance residents' ability to identify and respond to microaggressions.
• To provide a reproducible training module for healthcare education.

Main Methods:

• A 4-hour virtual simulation session was developed, including didactic overview and skills practice.
• The curriculum was delivered to 68 senior internal medicine residents.
• Pre- and post-surveys assessed changes in learner confidence in responding to microaggressions.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in learner confidence in identifying microaggressions was observed.
• Confidence in addressing gender-based, race-based, and other microaggressions significantly improved.
• Confidence increased across various contexts, including interprofessional settings and hierarchical relationships.

Conclusions:

• Virtual experiential learning can effectively boost resident confidence in addressing microaggressions.
• The developed curriculum offers a practical solution for healthcare bias training.
• This program contributes to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare environment.