Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Post Master's DNP Completion
Year Degree Awarded
2021
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/22711346
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
implicit bias, racism, maternal mortality, obstetrics, providers, Black
Advisor
Dr. Mary Ellen Burke
DNP Project Chair
Dr. Mary Ellen Burke
DNP Project Outside Member Name
Dr. Anitra Beasley
Abstract
Background: Maternal health care providers’ implicit racial biases affect quality of care and have serious repercussions, including significantly increased rates of maternal mortality among Black women. Implicit bias training, particularly involving multipronged approaches stretched over time, is effective at increasing bias awareness and gaining practical skills to prevent bias from impacting patient care. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to elevate implicit bias awareness and use of evidence-based strategies by resident physicians in order to decrease negative outcomes for Black women receiving maternity care. Methods: An educational intervention was implemented with obstetrics and gynecological residents in a large urban hospital in Texas over a three-month period. The Black-White Implicit Association Test and the Motivation to Control Prejudice Reactions Scale was administered pre-, immediately post-, and three months post-intervention. Evaluation of changes in racial implicit biases and motivation to manage bias was performed. Results: The workshop helped 86.4% of participants increase their awareness of personal implicit bias, 86.6% of participants to make connections between racism and healthcare disparities, and increased motivation in 85.7% of participants to provide care based on human rights and reproductive justice. The workshop increased motivation to be antiracist in 90.9% of participants at the 3-month follow up, and 100% of participants incorporated one or more antiracist strategies learned in the workshop. Conclusion: While racial implicit associations persisted, this workshop proved successful in helping maternal healthcare providers confront bias and racism and motivating them to incorporate techniques to reduce their impact.
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