Racism in Health Care

Reconstructive Qualitative Analysis of Racisms from the Perspective of Professional Caregivers in Hospitals and Rehabilitation Clinics (ASH Berlin sub-project)

Project duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025

Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. Regina Brunnett (Lead, Hochschule Fulda); Prof. Dr. Dr. Hürrem Tezcan-Güntekin (ASH Berlin); Prof. Dr. Patrick Brzoska (Universität Witten/Herdecke)

Project staff: Dr. Sibille Merz, Leman Bilgic, Ariam Hibtay, Hilal Yücesoy

Abstract:
The project focuses on racism in healthcare, using acute inpatient care and rehabilitation as examples. It examines racism from the perspectives of those affected and of facilities. It will examine attributions of healthcare personnel, as well as conditions and ways of dealing with discrimination related to racism in the facilities. The aim is to initiate organizational changes based on these findings. In Germany, few empirical findings on racism in healthcare are available. However, there are indications of everyday racism in isolated qualitative studies, as well as in health services research studies that reveal barriers to migrant healthcare.

The present study helps to close existing research gaps. It employs a mixed-methods approach. In addition to a literature review, it investigates the experiences of patients through qualitative interviews, reviews of social media sites, and a quantitative survey. Healthcare personnel are studied through qualitative interviews about their professional interactions with racialized patients, and the management of complaints in facilities is examined through a quantitative survey.

The results will be triangulated and used for reflective interviews with managers to explore starting points for organizational learning processes. Recommendations for action will be developed in collaboration with managers and a project advisory board.

The project will provide empirical insights into racism in healthcare and develop recommendations for reducing it. These recommendations will be linked to the concept of reflexive professionalization. The results of the project will be communicated to the public, healthcare networks, and the scientific community.

Funding: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

Keywords: Racism, Health Care, Inpatient Care, Rehabilitation

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