Examining the Unconscious Racial Biases and Attitudes of Physicians, Nurses, and the Public: Implications for Future Health Care Education and Practice

BACKGROUND: While studies have shown that unconscious bias (UB) is associated with racial health care disparities, its magnitude in the health care workforce has not been examined. Furthermore, there is an absence of studies examining the attitudes of health care workers toward UB, which may have implications for intervention effectiveness. This study aims to address these gaps to further understand the potential scope of impact of UB and interventions designed to address it on patient care. METHODS: This study provides an analysis to understand the magnitude of UB among physicians and nurses and their attitudes. Comparisons are made to the public to infer the potential causes and influences of medical education and training on individuals' UB. RESULTS: The health care workforce demonstrated a greater preference for whites than the public, nurses more so than physicians. UB was also shown to have significant geographic and professional variability. Nurses are more likely to agree that their UB is a reflection of the cultures they are exposed to unlike physicians who see their UB as an indication of individualistic or automatic thoughts toward people of another race. CONCLUSIONS: The UB of the health care workforce and their attitudes toward UB differ significantly from those of the general public. Current and future interventions aimed at reducing UB, to include education and policy changes, should consider these variations, especially when legislating mandates.