Abstract
This paper applies social cognition research to understanding and ameliorating the provider contribution to racial/ethnic disparities in health care. We discuss how fundamental cognitive mechanisms such as automatic, unconscious processes (e.g., stereotyping) can help explain provider bias. Even well-intentioned providers who are motivated to be nonprejudiced may stereotype racial/ethnic minority members, particularly under conditions of that diminish cognitive capacity. These conditions—time pressure, fatigue, and information overload—are frequently found in health care settings. We conclude with implications of the social-cognitive perspective for developing interventions to reduce provider bias.
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Burgess, D.J., Fu, S.S. & van Ryn, M. Why do providers contribute to disparities and what can be done about it?. J GEN INTERN MED 19, 1154–1159 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30227.x
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Key words
- provider behavior
- disparities
- race
- ethnicity
- social cognition