This assignment explores implicit biases and their impact on healthcare outcomes. Implicit biases are subconscious attitudes or stereotypes that influence our actions and decisions. You will examine how these biases manifest in healthcare through video analysis, group discussions, and scenario-based questions. You will also identify personal biases and propose strategies to address them to provide more equitable and effective patient care. This assignment will enhance your understanding of implicit biases, informed consent, and the ethical principle of autonomy, equipping you with practical solutions to improve your professional practice and patient outcomes.
Directions:
Pull up a document or sheet of paper: Pull up a document or sheet of paper to document your observations and thoughts while watching the assigned video. This will help you engage with the content and prepare for the steps required for your submission.
Respond to Questions: Answer the questions provided in the assignment document. Ensure your responses are detailed and align with the prompts. For your paper and responses, follow the APA essay format.
Document Format: Prepare your responses in a Microsoft Word or PDF document. Ensure the document is well-organized and clearly labeled with your name and assignment title.
Review the Rubric: Before submitting, review the rubric to ensure your work meets all the criteria for full credit. Pay close attention to the requirements for each section.
Submit on Canvas: Upload your completed document to Canvas by the specified due date. For group work, only one person needs to submit the document.
Additional Notes for Success:
Take detailed notes during the video to reference when answering questions.
Ensure your examples and explanations are clear and well-supported.
Proofread your document for clarity, coherence, and adherence to APA format.
Manage your time effectively to ensure all parts of the assignment are completed thoroughly.
Step 1: Watch a Video
Watch POV: Implicit Bias – Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Racism Links to an external site..
Take detailed notes during the video, as you will utilize these notes throughout your responses for this assignment.
Step 2: Initial Responses from the Video
Review the following questions and respond with your answers:
Explain the concept of implicit and explicit biases using your understanding and what you learned from the video.
What is blindspot bias, and why may this be a problem when addressing implicit bias in healthcare?
Step 3: Read the following articles and Case Study
Hospitals must now obtain written consent for certain medical exams, new federal guidance says Links to an external site.
Letter to the nation’s teaching hospitals and medical schools Links to an external site.
Case Study
Jane is a 35-year-old homeless, uninsured white female with a history of opioid use disorder. She has been sober for the past five years. Jane arrives at the Free County Hospital complaining of abnormal uterine bleeding and severe pelvic pain. Her care team includes a male physician, a female medical student, and a female nurse. The nurse overhears the physician telling the medical student that drug users are “always seeking” and typically create “fake complaints” just to access more drugs. The physician’s dismissive attitude towards Jane is evident as he refers to her condition as another instance of drug-seeking behavior despite her five years of sobriety.
As part of Jane’s care plan, a woman’s pelvic exam is required, typically performed by a physician. Seeing this as a teaching opportunity, the physician wants the medical student to conduct the exam but does not intend to inform Jane that a student will perform it. He insists that it is unnecessary to tell the patient, stating that it is a good learning opportunity for the student. The nurse intervenes, explaining that informed consent must be obtained before the procedure. The physician, however, dismisses the nurse’s concerns, arguing that he has no time to “waste” on an uninsured homeless patient. He insists that the medical student can inform Jane about the risks and benefits, even though students cannot obtain consent. The medical student and the nurse feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, believing their concerns are being ignored. The physician has a reputation for not taking women seriously and often disregards the input of his colleagues, especially those who challenge his authority.
Step 4: Answer the Questions
Informed Consent: To provide a comprehensive understanding of informed consent, several key aspects must be addressed. To thoroughly explain the concept and its significance in healthcare, address the following points.
How would you explain the concept of “informed consent” to someone without a medical background, using examples from the case study, what you have learned in class, and the article above?
Informed consent is related to the idea of autonomy in healthcare. How do you think informed consent helps patients make decisions about their care?
Application of the Case Study: To analyze the application of the case study, it’s essential to evaluate the following aspects. Address these points to assess whether informed consent was obtained correctly and if Jane has sufficient information to make an informed decision about her care.
Do you believe Jane’s healthcare team obtained informed consent in this scenario? Why or why not?
Has Jane been provided with enough information to make an informed decision about her care? Explain your reasoning.
Identify and Apply Biases to Care: It is crucial to identify and apply biases to the care scenario to pinpoint and understand specific biases. Please address the following points to evaluate the implicit and explicit biases present and their potential impact on Jane’s level of care.
Identify two implicit and two explicit biases present in this scenario.
How might one implicit and one explicit bias affect the level of care Jane receives?
Strategies to Address Biases: Implementing specific strategies is essential to effectively addressing and tackling biases in healthcare. Address the following points to understand how healthcare professionals can reduce the impact of these biases.
List and explain three strategies healthcare professionals can use to address and tackle these biases.
The submission should:
Be the student’s original work
Include the names of all students
Use personal experiences and critical thinking, and analyze the information from your resources.
Connect reflection back to current and prior readings/videos
Be at least 500-1,000 words for the full submission (excluding in-text citations in your word count)
Include a word count at the bottom of the paper
Ensure your paper is well-developed and structured; use of heading levels, double-spacing, and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted on this assignment, including ChatGPT and other related tools for creating text, images, computer code, audio, or other media.
APA Guidelines:
Cite the readings or videos using the APA 7th edition. Please include in-text citations & references in your assignment.
Follow APA’s Writing Style and Grammar
Review the APA book and/or module in this class module.
Title Page
Subheadings
Numbers
Continuity and Flow
No Contractions
Font & Line Spacing
Abbreviations
In-text citations
Professional References
Sample Format Links to an external site. of how to organize your reflection.