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Publication Date

5-2025

Abstract

Purpose: Healthcare disparities constitute a critical challenge in contemporary medicine, with robust evidence demonstrating marked differences in health outcomes based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. This training program empowers healthcare providers to recognize and respond to discrimination, microaggressions, and racism in clinical environments, demonstrating simulation’s effectiveness as a medical education tool for addressing these challenges in the medical workplace.

Method: The program utilizes a simulation-based training approach featuring three scenarios designed to equip trainees with skills to take action in instances of microaggressions and racism in medicine: (1) Mistaken Identity - confronting microaggressions experienced by an underrepresented in medicine trainee; (2) Cultural Bias in Patient Care - examining bias against foreign-trained physicians; and (3) Systemic Racism in Clinical Care - analyzing disparities in pain management for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. Each simulation follows a structured methodology including pre-briefing, 15–20-minute scenario with standardized participants, structured debriefing, and facilitated skill-building using evidenced-based response tools. Seventy –three pediatric residents participated in the simulations. Trainee feedback was obtained on the simulation objectives using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results: The participant evaluation of the simulation objectives was overwhelmingly positive. The feedback response rate was 91.7% (67/73). No one gave a poor or very poor rating. Ninety-six percent of respondents agreed the knowledge and experience they gained from this session will improve their practice. In addition, 71.6% strongly agreed the simulations acknowledged the impact of racism and power dynamics in patient care, 64.2% strongly agreed they can identify race-based microaggressions, and 61.2% strongly agreed they can acknowledge microaggressions and support recipients of microaggressions.

Conclusions: Simulation is a valuable medical education tool to develop skills in navigating microaggressions, racism and health equity in the medical workplace. This simulation-based training program improves trainees’ self-reported ability to identify and acknowledge microaggressions and racism in the medical workplace as well as support recipients of microaggressions and racism. This simulation-based training enhanced healthcare providers' capacity to engage in critical dialogue, recognize and mitigate bias while supporting affected individuals and uphold professional standards.

Document Type

Poster

Addressing Microaggressions and Racism Through Simulation-Based Training

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