Recognizing Your Own Bias

[DFIB]

Every basic is trained to accommodate for cultural differences; or at least they should be because it is in the book. We learn these cultural differences by experience and are positive they are true and repetitive in certain groups.

They are repetitive because they are behaviors that are learned by the young from the old. I do not consider cultural differences to be stereotypical. They are simply differences. We often find these differences funny because they are beyond our comprehension, oddities that simply have to be accepted.

I refrain from using what could be used as stereotypical language in the forums because things get a different feel when they are written as opposed to the spoken word. I may slip up on occasion but try not to.

Professionalism is knowing these differences and treating the patient with dignity and respect in spite of what we may know or think we know.

[Chief1C]

Every basic is trained to accommodate for cultural differences; or at least they should be because it is in the book.

I think they skipped that chapter when I took the course. I take on each patient, as an individual. I don't lump groups together. Aside from EMS, that's not how I was raised. Some standards may be different, based upon regions of the globe.

The only thing I could do different for my patients, due to an industrial boom, is learn spanish; and beat myself up for taking years of French I and II in high school. Je suis un ananas. Or something like that.

[Chief1C]

I think we need to ban the term "taking the piss". And "lol"

[Herbie]

I guess it depends on where you practice. If you live in a large area, you may be exposed to many different ethnic groups, who each may have very different cultures and practices. First generation immigrants may bring their own homespun remedies which we may find very different, or even downright dangerous.

I will never forget the first time I saw the practice of cupping. For those who are not aware, a small glass is heated, the cup is placed on the skin, creating a partial vacuum, and is intended to stimulate blood flow to an area, draw out bad blood, toxins, phlegm in the chest, and many other things. It's an ancient practice and many cultures have used it- China, Hindu nations, Viet Nam, Mexico- very common with old school folks.

The first time I saw it, we were called for a congested young patient who had circular type red marks on his chest, and I of course thought it was some type of abuse. My partner had to explain to me what it was all about. Does it work? Apparently not, since they called us for help, but who am I to judge?

[runswithneedles]

What do we call a black woman from the ghetto giving birth to a child. A patient. What do we call a illegal mexican who was shot during a drive by. A patient. Its all the same to me.

Edited March 9, 2012 by runswithneedles

[DwayneEMTP]

Yeah Hebie, I had hot cupping done in Mongolia for a respiratory infection. I'll have to see if I can find the pics...And it's more than just the cups the majority of the time. It's combined with an herbal oil that they rub onto/into your skin believing that to be healthy alone but more so when you draw the blood up into contact with it with the cups.

Does it work? I don't know either. I got better pretty fast but was on other meds as well. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. A bit of it hurt in a good way, and the rest felt really good in a good way. Plus I'm pretty sure it didn't make me worse.

One thing that that experience along with others while being remote has convinced me of...When you're really sick, it feels really good to have someone put their hands on you in any kind and gentle way. We really miss the boat where this is concerned with medicine.

I think that there was also power in the fact that this beautiful young woman so seriously expended her gentle attentions to make me well. By putting my mind in the best place to heal in not wanting to disappoint her by staying sick after she's cared for me. Sounds silly, but it feels right in some way, just not sure what way...

Have at it making all of the porn references that you'd like, but it was an amazing few moments in time without any discernible sexual element that I could see.

(Man, sorry for blathering on off topic. I'm only a few days from flying and as most of our long timers know that tends to make me and other remote/military/rural medics a little melancholy and introspective.)

[Kiwiology]

You must recognise your own biases and how they affect your ability to provide care. This is something that was taught on day 3 of nursing school.

Me? I have no biases, for I am Kiwi (which reminds me to get that Weasel fucker, thinks he can steal my line)

Hey, I think that makes Dwayne I R Baboon

[MedicNorth]

Great post, Wendy.

Does someone have a magic formula that will show us the line between bias and awareness? I think that we all, in at least some ways, adapt our treatment of a patient according to culture, gender, appearance,age, location,and probably a host of other factors. We can often attribute this differentiation to experience, especially if we have been in the field for a substantial amount of time. I suspect that some of this differentiation is accurate and beneficial, while some is either detrimental or at least not helpful in our assessment and treatment.

The longer you work the more likely you are to come across every possible classic image. This does not make a set of rules that we can follow for every patient that seems to fit the category, though we are probably arriving on scene with pre-determined expectations.

So once again..... who can tell me what makes our preconceptions valuable and professional, and what makes them simply bigotted and dangerous?

[BushyFromOz]

The secret to not being biased is to hate everyone equally

[mikeymedic1984]

Maybe this will help, I have not taken the test, can not open it on my phone, so sorry if this is not the link I hope it is:

http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias (definitions)

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ (the actual test)