It’s a natural occurrence – the way she talks to others about their personal biases and stereotypes all day long – yet people seem to welcome her thoughts.
Dr. Nancy Smith
She is Dr. Nancy Smith, Winston-Salem State University clinical assistant professor of physical therapy. Yes, physical therapy. Studies have shown successful physical therapists, as well as other healthcare professionals, must rely on more than the latest successful physical and medical protocols to be successful.
“How we see age, religion, sexual orientation, race, gender and income truly impacts how we do things and relate with people everyday,” says Smith. “But most people don’t realize they have biases or make judgments which affects what and how they are communicating and interacting with people not like them. Many people do have sub-conscious biases,” Smith notes.
As the instructor of a course on psychosocial integration, Smith works to make sure everyone she teaches recognizes and has a clear understanding of how the interaction between the beliefs, attitudes and behavior of the client affects healthcare delivery in a global society. Students also learn how biases may lead to health care disparities against the poor or minorities among others.
Each class focuses on discussions about delivering treatment to those of a different age, sexual orientation, gender, race and culture than themselves. Students have to write research papers on such questions as: did you have any bias towards the patient? Why or Why not? How would this affect your care of the patient? How do you think other medical professionals might perceive this patient? In the end, students describe what perceived biases they felt and how they can address them.
“Cultural competence and awareness can go a long way when treating people who are different than yourself,” says Smith. “For example, healthcare professionals have to know they must treat patients differently in a community clinic or hospital emergency room than a typical doctor’s office in order to provide care that meets the needs of that individual client taking into account their cultural and socioeconomic status.”
That awareness starts with healthcare professionals recognizing their own tendencies towards bias in provision of healthcare. Until students enroll in Smith’s unique course, many do not realize exactly what biases they have. She helps students develop awareness and modify their behavior.
Income factors, for example, shape a patient’s habits on diet, frequency of doctor’s visits, how they define healthcare, and – ultimately — wellness activities. Cultural diets and other factors also affect a patient’s view and interaction with healthcare professionals.
“Its hard as a healthcare professional to deal with wellness without dealing first with cultural differences,” Smith said.
Smith has special insight into the subject. Of Native-American Indian heritage, Smith’s great-grandmother protested when her grandmother was recommended to leave public schools to attend Native-American Indian schools.
“My great-grandmother marched my grandmother to school and demanded her daughter be educated.”
That story, shared for ages, had an effect on Smith’s family throughout several generations. The effect was good with each generation going further in education than the previous generation.
“My dad was the first in his generation to graduate college on his side of family. He has a master’s degree. I am the first person to get a doctorate on both sides of the family,” Smith noted. “When I think about it, my great-grandmother has had an great impact affecting my family and beyond, maybe even my students,“ Smith said.
