Publication Date

2020

Journal Title

MedEdPORTAL

Abstract

© 2020 Acholonu et al. Introduction: Microaggressions are connected to broader conceptualizations of the impact of implicit bias and systems of inequity. The body of evidence supporting the need for more-open discussions in medical education about race, racism, and their impact on health disparities continues to grow. Some have advocated for the importance of bringing anti-racist pedagogy into medical education curricula, which involves explicitly attempting to move beyond people's comfort zones and acknowledging that discomfort can be a catalyst for growth. To discuss the intent and impact of microaggressions in health care settings and how we might go about responding to them, we developed a workshop for third-year undergraduate medical students within a longitudinal undergraduate medical education diversity and inclusion curriculum. Methods: This workshop occurred during a regularly scheduled clerkship intersession during the 2016-2017 academic year for third-year undergraduate medical students (N = 154). Prior to the workshop, the students were asked to anonymously submit critical incident reports on any microaggressions experienced or witnessed to develop case studies for problem-based learning. Teaching modalities included lecture, problem-based learning with case studies, pair and share, and facilitated small- and large-group debriefs. Results: The session was evaluated using a 4-point Likert scale to assess students' comfort in learning about the information presented. Ninety-eight percent felt confident in identifying microaggressions, and 85% felt confident in interrupting microaggressions when they occur. Discussion: This personalized workshop exposes students to microaggressions personally experienced by colleagues with an attempt to interrupt them using empathy, awareness, and communication techniques.

Volume Number

16

Pages

10969

Document Type

Article

Status

Faculty

Facility

School of Medicine

Primary Department

Cardiology

Additional Departments

Science Education

PMID

32754633

DOI

10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10969


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Cardiology Commons

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