40% of Physicians Admit to Having Biases Toward Certain Patient Groups

Medscape recently conducted a survey on physician perspectives on bias in healthcare. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         2 in 5 of physicians admitted to having biases toward certain patient groups.

·         62% of physicians picked patient emotional problems as the factor most likely to trigger bias.

·         ER physicians (62%), orthopedists (50%), and psychiatrists (48%), were most likely to report bias.

·         20% of physicians who admitted bias said that it affected their treatment.

·         More men (56%) than women (48%) reported bias related to weight.

·         72% of physicians reported that emotional problems had a negative effect on treatment.

Source: Medscape, January 13, 2016