Acknowledging and Addressing Implicit Bias

       Most of the time, people don't even realize they are being bias. This is called implicit, or unconscious, bias. When we encounter the unexpected, our brain instinctively reacts and our hearts begin to race, there is an increase in BP, and we feel stressed. The amygdala in the brain is the main source of stress hormone reactions when it encounters something unexpected - The Flight or Fight response. We cannot change this internal trigger, so the only solution is to change what is external. We must consciously turn the unexpected to the expected. If we stop and examine our own thoughts and behaviors when faced with the unfamiliar, we can catch ourselves having poor reactions and rather take control of our expectations, and doing so, eliminating our biases. Valarie Alexander stated that there are 3 ways to address our own implicit bias:

 1. Visualize situations before they happen (change the immediate image you get in your mind and open your mind to different possibilities)

2. When you encounter the unexpected, examine own behavior.

3. Made a conscious effort to expose myself to that which is currently unexpected.

    Eliminating bias in healthcare, specifically occupational therapy, is essential in order to provide each patient with the best quality of care possible. Biases can negatively effect the therapeutic relationship and patient outcomes. Implicit bias can be anything from race and gender to language, age, weight, sexual orientation, education level, or employment status. According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, "Implicit bias can negatively affect other elements of patient interaction with the health care system. A 2015 study found that racial/ethnic minorities, individuals with lower levels of education, and unemployed individuals spend significantly longer time waiting to obtain medical care, with blacks and Latinos waiting 19 and 25 minutes more, respectively, than white patients to see a doctor." In conclusion, it is vital that we use the 3 ways above to help acknowledge our implicit biases and address them so that we can be the best OT practitioners for our clients.

References:

IHI Multimedia Team. (2017, September 28). How to reduce implicit bias. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/how-to-reduce-implicit-bias 

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). AOTA's guide to acknowledging the impact of discrimination, stigma, and implicit bias on provision of services. https://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Guide-Acknowledging-Impact-Discrimination-Stigma-Implicit-Bias.pdf 

Alexander, V. (2017, September). How to outsmart your own unconscious bias [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/valerie_alexander_how_to_outsmart_your_own_unconscious_bias