Evaluating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on workforce conditions and patient care

Due to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare settings, institutions nationwide have prioritized interventions to increase DEI. This study aims to describe perceptions of DEI held by employees within a Department of Surgery at two time points after targeted interventions to identify areas for improvement and to offer recommendations for future interventions.

In June 2021 and February 2023, electronic surveys were distributed to clinicians, non-clinicians, and medical trainees affiliated with the Department of Surgery at a tertiary academic medical center. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square analyses, and univariate regressions were utilized to analyze responses.

Analyses revealed significant shifts in perceptions between 2021 and 2023 regarding the impact of a patient’s race on how they are treated, comfort in caring for non-white patients, comfort in caring for patients of a different race, and frequency of medical interpreter usage. Analyses across both years, however, demonstrated that individuals who defined themselves as female at birth selected significantly higher scores for the level of gender bias that exists within the department and significantly lower scores for how equitable hiring practices, promotion practices, and academic advancement practices are related to gender.

The study reveals promising reductions in perceived, race-based bias regarding patient care, but also highlights the persistence of perceived, gender-based disparities in hiring, promotion, and academic advancement, underscoring the need for ongoing targeted DEI interventions. The findings and proposed interventions offer valuable insights applicable to other academic centers seeking to improve their DEI efforts.