A research team from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, has added new knowledge about how Black patients in particular are impacted by exposure to discrimination in the course of cancer care. Through interviews with Black cancer survivors, the scientists found that experiences with implicit and explicit bias occurred throughout the entire oncology care process, from scheduling appointments to doctor visits. The results included slowdowns in diagnosis and the delivery of care. Some patients even opted to diverge from recommended treatment. Co-author Chanita Hughes Halbert, PhD, noted that discrimination is a systemic problem that must be addressed on many levels, from policy to patient. “For providers to understand the lived experiences of patients is really critical,” to providing higher-quality care. Read more here.
Black cancer patients navigate racial discrimination during cancer care
