A Qualitative Study of Perceptions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Work at University of Utah Health

The Diversity Engagement Survey (DES) was administered at University of Utah Health (UUHealth) in 2015 and 2023. In 2023, leaders provided an opportunity for participants to express their opinions on equity, diversity, and inclusion work at UUHealth as part of the DES.

E-mails were sent with a survey link to all employees and learners at UUHealth (N = 23,945). This article focuses on the responses to the question, "If you wish, please provide additional comments on the diversity and inclusion efforts at University of Utah Health." The responses were entered into NVivo. Data were then coded inductively into parent codes. Parent codes were grouped and merged to create themes that captured recurring experiences.

Twenty percent of those surveyed (n = 4879) completed the survey. Of these, 882 (18%) answered the open-ended question, and 779 distinct responses were coded after the elimination of duplicates and blanks. The following eight themes were revealed by the analysis: experiences of discrimination and equity; lack of accountability for perceived discrimination; perceived change resulting from equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts (EDI); EDI initiatives perceived as discriminatory and exclusionary; implementing and improving EDI outcomes; political views and tensions with EDI; diversity within executive levels; and overall recommendations.

In response to the above themes, UUHealth EDI has expanded to include veterans and older adults, changed its communication strategy to ensure that employees and students know about both reporting and accountability structures, implemented a religious diversity program, and incorporated the equity diversity and inclusion surveys in the unified Better U survey.