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Exploring subconscious bias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2021

K Miu Open the ORCID record for K Miu [Opens in a new window] ,
D Ranford Open the ORCID record for D Ranford [Opens in a new window] ,
C Hopkins ,
Y Karagama  and
P Surda
K Miu*
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
D Ranford
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
C Hopkins
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
Y Karagama
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
P Surda
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Kelvin Miu, Otolaryngology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK E-mail: kelvin.miu@nhs.net
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Abstract

Background

Implicit biases may lead to subconscious evaluations of a person based on irrelevant characteristics such as race or gender. This audit investigates the presence of implicit bias in the management of patients who missed appointments in our department.

Methods

This study retrospectively analysed discharge rates in 285 patients who missed an out-patient appointment between 1 May 2020 and 1 April 2021 at Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital. After reading the patients' names, 285 patients were categorised into genders, and ethnic categories of: White British; Black, Asian and minority (non-White) ethnic (‘BAME’); and other White.

Results

There were no differences in discharge rates in terms of self-reported ethnic and gender groups. However, patients perceived as White British were less likely to be discharged when compared to patients perceived as Black, Asian and minority ethnic (35 per cent vs 58 per cent). Discharge rates for perceived gender did not differ.

Conclusion

Implicit bias may influence decision-making regarding whether to rebook a patient after missing an appointment.

Keywords

BiasEthnicityGender
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 10 , October 2022 , pp. 961 - 963
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Dr K Miu takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

*

Joint first authors

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