Consensus on an implicit bias and health disparities curriculum in neonatal medicine: a Delphi study

Stephanie C Mavis; Catherine G Caruso; Cara Beth Carr; Nicolle F Dyess; Heather French; Rita Dadiz; Margarita Vasquez; Lindsay Johnston; Maria Gillam-Krakauer; Patricia Chess; Susan Izatt; Allison H Payne; Melissa M Carbajal; Elizabeth M Bonachea; Megan M Gray

doi:10.1038/s41372-022-01530-2

Consensus on an implicit bias and health disparities curriculum in neonatal medicine: a Delphi study

J Perinatol. 2022 Nov;42(11):1519-1526. doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01530-2. Epub 2022 Oct 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. mavis.stephanie@mayo.edu.
² Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
³ Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁴ Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁶ Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
⁷ Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
⁹ Mildred T. Stahlman Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatrics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
¹¹ Division of Neonatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
¹² Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
¹³ Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
¹⁴ Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.

PMID: 36203083
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01530-2

Abstract

Objective: Despite longstanding and recurrent calls for effective implicit bias (IB) education in health professions education as one mechanism to reduce ongoing racism and health disparities, such curricula for neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM) are limited. We aim to determine the key curricular elements for educating NPM fellows, advanced practice providers, and attending physicians in the critical topics of IB and health disparities.

Study design: A modified Delphi study was performed with content experts in IB and health disparities who had educational relationships to those working and training in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Result: Three Delphi rounds were conducted from May to November 2021. Experts reached consensus on a variety of items for inclusion in the curriculum, including educational goals, learning objectives, teaching strategies, and educator principles.

Conclusion: Essential curricular components of an IB and health disparities curriculum for neonatal medicine were defined using rigorous consensus building methodology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bias, Implicit*
Clinical Competence
Consensus
Curriculum*
Delphi Technique
Humans
Infant, Newborn