SOCI 324 6,7-1 Video Assignment 2

Introduction to 6,7-1 Video Assignment 2

This Owlisdom’s SOCI 324 6,7-1 Video Assignment 2 centers around a video on implicit biases, specifically in the context of healthcare, presented by Melanie Funchess. Students will reflect on their initial reactions, extract new learnings about implicit biases, and critically analyze how these biases manifest in healthcare interactions and outcomes. This SOCI 324 Video Assignment 2 guide will direct students on how to effectively dissect and respond to these complex topics.

Discuss your initial reactions to the video.

Initial Reactions To The Video

In this section of SOCI 324 Video Assignment 2, we will discuss initial reactions to the video.

Document your initial emotional and intellectual responses to the video content, focusing on how the presenter’s anecdotes and data affected your understanding of implicit biases.

Example

Watching Melanie Funchess discuss implicit bias in her TEDx talk was enlightening and unsettling. Her delivery was poignant, filled with personal anecdotes that illustrated implicit biases’ pervasive and often devastating impact. The stark reality that these biases are not confined to overtly discriminatory individuals but are present in everyone, including myself, is a sobering thought. The narrative was compelling, mainly because it forced a reflection on the internalized stereotypes we might unknowingly harbor and act upon. The emotional gravity of Melanie Funchess’s presentation was impactful, particularly as she intertwined personal stories with broader societal implications.

Discuss new information you learned regarding implicit bias. 

New Information Learned Regarding Implicit Bias

In this section of SOCI 324 6,7-1 Video Assignment 2, we will discuss the new information we have learned about implicit bias.

Summarize the key points learned about the nature of implicit biases, especially their subconscious influence on behavior and decision-making.

Example

The talk expanded my understanding of implicit bias, particularly its automatic nature and how it infiltrates our subconscious actions and decisions. Melanie Funchess emphasized that implicit biases are not a reflection of our declared beliefs but are instead those unexamined reactions and thoughts that occur without our conscious awareness. The distinction between explicit bias, which is conscious, and implicit bias, which operates subtly and often invisibly, was particularly enlightening. This understanding underscores the need for continuous self-awareness and the challenge of addressing something deeply ingrained and often invisible. Additionally, the talk highlighted how implicit bias is shaped by personal experiences and broader societal narratives and media portrayals, which often go unchallenged within our subconscious. Understanding this origin is crucial as it provides a pathway for deconstructing these biases through targeted education and exposure to diverse perspectives, fostering a more inclusive viewpoint in our everyday interactions and professional judgments.

The speaker gives an example of implicit bias that occurred specifically within healthcare.  Discuss your thoughts on what happened with this situation and how implicit bias impacted the situation.  

Implicit Bias In Healthcare

This section of SOCI 324 Video Assignment 2 will discuss implicit bias in healthcare.

Reflect on the examples given in the video, such as the misdiagnosis based on racial stereotypes, and discuss the implications for healthcare practice.

Example

The example provided by Funchess about the healthcare system was particularly striking. She recounted a personal story where doctors persisted in testing her husband for diseases stereotypically associated with African American men, such as HIV, despite multiple negative tests, overlooking the correct diagnosis of stage four B non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma until it was nearly too late. This incident starkly illustrates how implicit biases can blind healthcare providers to objective evidence, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment based solely on the patient’s race. It is a powerful reminder of how stereotypes can lead to life-threatening delays in treatment and misdirected care protocols. Furthermore, implicit bias in healthcare can extend beyond diagnostic decisions to affect patient-provider interactions, where providers may unconsciously communicate less effectively or empathetically with patients from particular racial or ethnic groups. This can undermine trust and patient satisfaction, crucial components of effective healthcare delivery, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes and decreased adherence to medical advice among those impacted by such biases.

Reflect on how our implicit bias could impact your patients (keep in mind we ALL have implicit bias, and this has the potential to impact our work with patients). 

Impact Of Implicit Bias On Patient Care

In this section of SOCI 324 6,7-1 Video Assignment 2, we will discuss the impact of implicit bias on patient care.

Consider how recognizing and mitigating implicit biases is essential for improving health outcomes and promoting health equity.

Example

Acknowledging that we all possess implicit biases is crucial for healthcare professionals. For medical professionals, these unrecognized biases can influence how we perceive patient symptoms, the seriousness with which we take their complaints, and even the treatments we prescribe. This could lead to disparities in the quality of care delivered to patients from different backgrounds or ethnicities. For instance, research has shown that pain management differs among racial groups, with some studies suggesting that African American patients are less likely to receive the same pain management as their white counterparts due to biased perceptions of their pain levels.

Understanding and mitigating our implicit biases is not just about improving individual patient interactions but is essential for advancing health equity. It requires an ongoing commitment to introspection, continued education on cultural competence, and implementing systematic checks in clinical protocols that help reduce the space for biased judgments to influence care. It could include more standardized approaches to diagnosing and treating common ailments, ensuring that all patients receive the same level of care regardless of the practitioner’s subconscious biases.

CLOSING

This SOCI 324 6,7-1 Video Assignment 2 enriches your understanding of how implicit biases can subtly yet significantly impact healthcare delivery and patient interactions. By engaging with this content, you are better prepared to identify, challenge, and reduce biases in your future professional and personal interactions, leading to more equitable and effective healthcare practices. In the next module of SOCI 324, we will explore the 6,7-2 Implicit Bias Assignment.