Evaluation of a bias awareness training for teachers in bio/medical education

The aim of this study is to evaluate a bias awareness training for bio/medical teachers. It has been shown that teachers who have an inclusive attitude in different dimensions of their teaching are able to create an inclusive learning environment, which is important for student learning and well-being. The first step in an inclusive attitude is awareness of unconscious attitudes and associations that impact how we view the world, other people, our behavior and decision-making. To create more awareness, a bias awareness training was designed based on Sukhera’s seven-point framework for integrating implicit bias recognition into health professions education. The training was implemented for all bio/medical degree-program teachers and medical doctors teaching medical residents. Using a mixed methods design, our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the training in increasing teachers’ awareness and knowledge of implicit biases and their propensity to act in non-biased ways (e.g., social interactions, course materials). All teachers who followed a training session were invited to participate in this study. The first phase of our study consists of pre- and post-training survey analysis, followed by in-depth interviews conducted with teachers who have participated in the training during the second phase. Preliminary results show that participants have a better understanding of implicit bias after following the training. The preliminary analysis also shows an increase in confidence of participants to recognize implicit bias and an increase in their ability to identify solutions for their own implicit bias. During the in-depth interviews in the second phase of this study, we hope to discover more about the facilitators and barriers that participants experience within their teams, departments, and organization. The design of this workshop can be relevant to all education settings. Additionally, the results will offer valuable insights into how to foster inclusive a diverse bio/medical education.