Why Bias Matters in Medicine: Qualitative Insights from Anonymous, Online Reports

Purpose: Bias has been shown to influence the experience and mental health of healthcare professional trainees and faculty in academic medicine. The authors investigated the character and impact of self-reported bias experiences sustained in the academic medical arena that were submitted anonymously online to the website SystemicDisease.com. Method: This qualitative study analyzed 22 narratives submitted online to SystemicDisease.com between September 2015 and March 2017. Both deductive and inductive content analysis was performed, using a combination of a priori axial and open coding. Results: The most commonly reported biases occurred on the basis of race and/ or gender. Multiple submitters indicated this bias had influenced or threatened their intended career trajectory. Healthcare professional trainees also expressed altruistic concerns toward other underrepresented individuals as well as toward patients from disadvantaged backgrounds. Conclusion: Racial and gender bias constitute a considerable barrier for trainees and professionals in academic medicine. Institutional awareness of these impacts can inform interventions designed to foster a more intrusive professional climate.