Title: Assessing Future Healthcare Professionals’ about Healthcare Disparities and Medical Racism
Name: Estela Rangel
Primary Presenters: Estela Rangel
College of Health Sciences
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor(s): Kris A. Barnekow

Healthcare disparities and medical racism can often play a role in infant mortality rates among marginalized communities. Although infant mortality rates have declined over the years, the rates for Black infants are two-three times higher when compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Healthcare disparities and medical racism create a downward spiral that often prevents individuals from accessing the healthcare they deserve. The purpose of this study is to better understand student knowledge and attitudes about healthcare disparities and medical racism as they relate to infant mortality. A descriptive research design was used to develop a questionnaire comprised of knowledge-based and attitude-based questions about health disparities and medical racism. Descriptive feedback will be gathered from professors to establish content validity and ensure the items on the questionnaire are clear and essential. Feedback on clarity and essentiality will also be gathered from student participants to provide a basis for future adjustments to the assessment. The questionnaire will then be submitted for IRB Approval of Human Research Studies. It will then be distributed to students to pilot test the questionnaire in a class aimed at increasing cultural sensitivity and humility. This study will provide descriptive data about developing a questionnaire that assesses current undergraduate students’ awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards healthcare disparities and medical racism as they are related to infant mortality. The long-term objective of this research program is to elucidate students’ preparation levels related to healthcare disparities and medical racism. In the short term, results will support the content and face validity of a questionnaire aimed at understanding student knowledge and attitudes about factors that contribute to infant mortality.