Bioethics and African American Men: Lessons Learned
Disciplines
Health Communication | Medicine and Health | Race and Ethnicity | Social and Cultural Anthropology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Despite much research in chronic disease self-management, significant gaps in knowledge still exist, especially regarding vulnerable and underserved populations. More specifically, low-income African American men are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions, especially coping with multiple morbidities. Low-income African American men also experience additional burdens to health related to cultural beliefs and practices about health, knowledge and perceptions regarding chronic conditions, and lack of support systems, creating even greater health inequalities. Moreover, the problems of systemic racism in predominately African American communities are complex, multifactorial, and historically rooted. While these problems are deeply morally troubling, bioethicists have not contributed substantially to addressing them. This study investigates how bioethicists can offer meaningful contributions to the public discourse, research, teaching, training, and policy development in response to the alarming and persistent patterns of racism and implicit biases within the healthcare system. We worked with Wellstar Health System (the largest healthcare system in the state of Georgia) to further assess the experiences of African American men and the hospital medical ethicists. Qualitative data were collected to describe these experiences and provide further insight to include in behavior change interventions, aimed to improving self-efficacy, patient activation, and patient/provider communication. Lessons learned were utilized to develop recommendations for Wellstar’s medical ethics team about how bioethicists can offer meaningful contributions to further respond to the alarming patterns of racism and implicit bias through their work with patients.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Health Promotion and Physical Education
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Evelina Sterling
Bioethics and African American Men: Lessons Learned
Despite much research in chronic disease self-management, significant gaps in knowledge still exist, especially regarding vulnerable and underserved populations. More specifically, low-income African American men are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions, especially coping with multiple morbidities. Low-income African American men also experience additional burdens to health related to cultural beliefs and practices about health, knowledge and perceptions regarding chronic conditions, and lack of support systems, creating even greater health inequalities. Moreover, the problems of systemic racism in predominately African American communities are complex, multifactorial, and historically rooted. While these problems are deeply morally troubling, bioethicists have not contributed substantially to addressing them. This study investigates how bioethicists can offer meaningful contributions to the public discourse, research, teaching, training, and policy development in response to the alarming and persistent patterns of racism and implicit biases within the healthcare system. We worked with Wellstar Health System (the largest healthcare system in the state of Georgia) to further assess the experiences of African American men and the hospital medical ethicists. Qualitative data were collected to describe these experiences and provide further insight to include in behavior change interventions, aimed to improving self-efficacy, patient activation, and patient/provider communication. Lessons learned were utilized to develop recommendations for Wellstar’s medical ethics team about how bioethicists can offer meaningful contributions to further respond to the alarming patterns of racism and implicit bias through their work with patients.