How Can We Combat Unconscious Bias in Sickle Cell Care?
In this program:
What are some ways to combat unconscious bias in sickle cell care? Sickle cell advocates John Masembe and Jemela Williams share their perspectives.
Transcript
Jemela Williams:
Can you provide examples of real-life scenarios in which unconscious bias may influence the work of providers or lab professionals and impact patient care? And how do you think these biases can be identified and mitigated?
John Masembe:
Yeah. I think a lot of real-life scenarios where unconscious bias plays a role is when, how we identify with pain in the sickle cell community, that's another thing. And we touched on that a little bit earlier on, where you believe where a Black patient has to face a double burden of not just being Black, because there is stigma about how we tolerate pain in the Black community, but also having to prove that you're in pain, that happens. And then how we express frustration, because we all get frustrated. We are not always going to be calm and collected. But how do you express yourself without fearing that, "Oh, now that I spoken up, my doctor is going to put something in my chart that says I'm not compliant." The doctor is going to put something in, or maybe the nurse didn't like how I might've spoken to her and now I'm the rowdy patient. All that is unconscious bias, because we have to think about...as a provider you have to think about the burdens patients are facing outside, but then also how different cultures express themselves in certain areas, certain situations. So I think it's really important for...some of those biases tend to leak into what some patients or providers see on TV or in media, and they leak into how they deliver care to Black patients, but that's not always the case.
So talking...being patient with your...talking to your doctor and being really, being real direct about what your needs are and say, "Hey, and also when I'm frustrated this how I feel, and this is how I express myself, don't take it personal." That is really a good way of trying to close up some of those biases. And then inclusive bias training at the hospitals. You know what I mean? Tell them to go get education, all providers should be able to do that because we all have biases, but being sensitive and understanding that we have to make sure that patients...and understanding that, gosh, when my words are being messed up right now, being aware that external environments really can bleed into how we deliver care as providers, is something to be really, really conscious about. So continuously getting bias training is really, really important.
Jemela Williams:
Yes, I agree, that's a great idea.
John Masembe:
Yeah.
