American journal of health behavior
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Randomized Controlled Trial
An Experimental Study of Implicit Racial Bias in Recognition of Child Abuse.
We evaluated whether implicit racial bias influences pediatricians' suspicion of child abuse. ⋯ We demonstrated an experimental approach to study the influence of implicit racial bias on recognition of child abuse. Though we failed to find an effect, it is too early to conclude that none exists. The relationship among human cognition, behavior, and healthcare disparities is complex. Studies are needed that incorporate diverse approaches, clinical contexts and scenarios, patient and physician characteristics, and validated measures if we are to understand how it might be used to reduce healthcare disparities.