Rebecca Delafield1, Andrea Hermosura2, Hyeong Jun Ahn3, Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula2. 1. Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawai'i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 677 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. 1016B, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA. delafiel@hawaii.edu. 2. Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawai'i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 677 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. 1016B, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA. 3. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Hawai'i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 651 Ilalo St. Medical Education Bldg., Ste 411, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pacific Islanders living in Hawai'i with ancestral ties to islands in the western Pacific region of Micronesia are common targets of uninhibited forms of prejudice in multiple sectors, including healthcare. Whether the explicit societal-level attitudes toward this group are reflected in implicit attitudes among healthcare providers is unknown; therefore, we designed a pilot study to investigate this question. Our study measures implicit racial bias toward Pacific Islanders from Micronesia among Obstetrician-Gynecologists (OB-GYNs) in Hawai'i. METHODS: We developed 4 new implicit association tests (IATs) to measure implicit attitudes and associations (i.e., stereotypes) toward Pacific Islanders from Micronesia in 2 conditions: (1) Micronesians vs. Whites and (2) Micronesians vs. Japanese Americans. Participants were practicing OB-GYNs in Hawai'i. The study was conducted online and included survey questions on demographic and physician practice characteristics in addition to IATs. The primary outcome was the mean IAT D score. Associations between IAT D scores and demographic and practice characteristics were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 49 OB-GYNs, 38 (77.6%) were female, mean age was 40 years, 29.5% were Japanese, 22.7% were White, and none were from a Micronesian ethnic group. The mean IAT D score in the Micronesian vs. White condition (N = 29) was 0.181, (SD: 0.465, p < 0.05) for the Attitude IAT and 0.197 (SD: 0.427; p < 0.05) for the Stereotype IAT. CONCLUSION: The findings from this pilot suggest a slight degree of implicit bias favoring Whites over Micronesians within this sample of OB-GYNs and warrant a larger investigation into implicit biases toward this unique and understudied Pacific Islander population.
INTRODUCTION: Pacific Islanders living in Hawai'i with ancestral ties to islands in the western Pacific region of Micronesia are common targets of uninhibited forms of prejudice in multiple sectors, including healthcare. Whether the explicit societal-level attitudes toward this group are reflected in implicit attitudes among healthcare providers is unknown; therefore, we designed a pilot study to investigate this question. Our study measures implicit racial bias toward Pacific Islanders from Micronesia among Obstetrician-Gynecologists (OB-GYNs) in Hawai'i. METHODS: We developed 4 new implicit association tests (IATs) to measure implicit attitudes and associations (i.e., stereotypes) toward Pacific Islanders from Micronesia in 2 conditions: (1) Micronesians vs. Whites and (2) Micronesians vs. Japanese Americans. Participants were practicing OB-GYNs in Hawai'i. The study was conducted online and included survey questions on demographic and physician practice characteristics in addition to IATs. The primary outcome was the mean IAT D score. Associations between IAT D scores and demographic and practice characteristics were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 49 OB-GYNs, 38 (77.6%) were female, mean age was 40 years, 29.5% were Japanese, 22.7% were White, and none were from a Micronesian ethnic group. The mean IAT D score in the Micronesian vs. White condition (N = 29) was 0.181, (SD: 0.465, p < 0.05) for the Attitude IAT and 0.197 (SD: 0.427; p < 0.05) for the Stereotype IAT. CONCLUSION: The findings from this pilot suggest a slight degree of implicit bias favoring Whites over Micronesians within this sample of OB-GYNs and warrant a larger investigation into implicit biases toward this unique and understudied Pacific Islander population.
Authors: Ashley H Schempf; Pauline Mendola; Brady E Hamilton; Donald K Hayes; Diane M Makuc Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-03-18 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Ashley H Hirai; Donald K Hayes; Maile M Taualii; Gopal K Singh; Loretta J Fuddy Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-09-12 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Wendy N Nembhard; Britni L Ayers; R Thomas Collins; Xiaoyi Shan; Nader Z Rabie; Di Chang; James M Robbins; Pearl A McElfish Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2019-11