Highlighting Racial Bias in Healthcare: Increasing Provider Insight

Abstract

Purpose. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to enhance healthcare providers’ understanding and recognition of racial bias in healthcare and to support integrating evidence-based strategies into clinical practice.Background. Racial bias, whether implicit or explicit, continues to contribute to disparities in healthcare access, treatment, and outcomes for minority populations. Providers may unintentionally engage in biased decision-making, which can negatively affect the quality of care delivered to patients from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Increasing provider awareness and promoting reflective practice are critical steps toward reducing these disparities and fostering a more inclusive healthcare environment. This project was conducted at a federally qualified health center in Southern Arizona, where advancing equity remains a priority. Methods. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, this project implemented an educational intervention focused on raising provider awareness of racial bias and offering practical tools for bias recognition and mitigation. Participants were invited to complete pre- and post-intervention surveys to assess perceived awareness, confidence, and insight related to racial bias in healthcare delivery. Quantitative and qualitative feedback were collected to evaluate the impact of the intervention. Outcomes. Survey responses demonstrated improved provider awareness and understanding of racial bias following the educational session. Participants reported increased confidence in identifying and addressing personal biases and highlighted the value of continued discussions around equitable care. Open-ended feedback emphasized enhanced self-reflection and a collective commitment to integrating these concepts into daily practice. Conclusions. Findings from this project support the role of targeted education as an effective strategy to promote bias recognition and culturally responsive care among healthcare providers. To sustain these efforts, ongoing training and the integration of bias awareness into organizational policies are recommended. Future quality improvement cycles should explore longitudinal approaches and broader dissemination across healthcare settings.