SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-A Virtual Microaggression Simulation Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents

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Internal Medicine residents identified a need for training on how to address bias, prompting the development of a virtual simulation curriculum on responding to microaggressions. The session was designed for senior residents and began with a didactic on the foundations of bias, followed by a workshop on practical strategies for addressing microaggressions. Learners then applied these skills in a virtual simulation using standardized actors, where they responded as bystanders to realistic microaggression scenarios.<br /><br />The curriculum was created in response to literature showing that discrimination and microaggressions harm individuals and healthcare organizations, and to a resident needs assessment indicating interest in a framework and practice opportunities for responding to these events.<br /><br />Pre- and post-session surveys showed that the curriculum improved learners’ confidence across multiple domains, including identifying microaggressions, responding as a bystander or recipient, and addressing incidents in different workplace settings and clinical acuity levels. Statistically significant gains were seen in most confidence measures, especially for addressing race-related microaggressions and interacting across professional hierarchies. Attitudes about the importance of learning these skills were already high and did not change significantly. Knowledge assessment results, based on open-ended responses, did not show a significant change.<br /><br />Overall, the virtual, experiential learning approach was well received and helped increase resident confidence in responding to microaggressions in the healthcare workplace.

Asset Subtitle

Dhanesh D. Binda

Meta Tag

Author List Dhanesh D. Binda, Gopal Yadavalli, Jennifer Siegel, Lindsay B. Demers, Radha Govindraj

Category Research

Concept Implicit Bias

Concept Discrimination

Concept Microaggressions

Concept Bystander Intervention

Concept Response Strategy

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Boston University School of Medicine

Presenting Author Dhanesh D. Binda

Track Education

Keywords

internal medicine

residency training

bias

microaggressions

virtual simulation

standardized actors

bystander intervention

healthcare workplace

resident confidence

experiential learning

Implicit Bias

Discrimination

Microaggressions

Bystander Intervention

Response Strategy