Bluejays research VR training to combat racial bias in maternal healthcare
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Creighton medical students participate in groundbreaking
VR-based cultural competency training
Joseph M Maurice, MD, MS, professor and chair in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine and trailblazer in medical education, is spearheading a revolutionary project at Creighton, employing virtual reality (VR) technology to increase racial sensitivity among medical students. In collaboration with Charee Thompson, PhD, an Associate Professor of Communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an expert in DEI communication, Maurice aims to tackle the pressing issue of health disparities in Black maternal health through innovative training.
This study aims to test VR-based cultural competency training to improve Black maternal health outcomes. “Ongoing health disparities for Black pregnant and postpartum women are unacceptable,” shares Maurice. “Implicit bias and poor cultural competency drive ineffective, inappropriate and racist communication between these women and their providers.” Through this research, Maurice is seeking to provide evidence-based, cost-effective training to address these implicit biases and cultural competencies.
This collaboration has been a really powerful example of strategic partnerships between experts in various fields to create change.
— Kamron Karimi Zand, 4th year medical student
The project received initial funding in 2022 and has since developed a comprehensive training program that includes a pretest, an immersive VR video viewed through Meta Quest Virtual Reality Headset glasses and a post-test to measure the participants' learning outcomes. The training, which will eventually extend to residents, is meticulously designed to help medical students recognize health inequities experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) patients, identify and manage their own implicit biases and communicate with BIPOC patients in a respectful and trust-building manner.
At the heart of this cutting-edge research are dedicated Creighton medical students who are integral to the project’s execution and success. These students have played a critical role in taking the pilot program and spearheading the rollout to trainees at Creighton. “We all play a role in coordinating and executing the study, completing data analysis and manuscript writing,” shares Kamron Karimi Zand, a 4th-year medical student. Julia LaForce, a 2nd year medical student, adds, “I’ve been researching how Black patients presenting with pelvic pain are treated in the clinic, often being dismissed and underdiagnosed compared to white patients.”
The collaboration between Maurice, Thompson and the students exemplifies the strategic partnerships necessary to create meaningful change in medical education. Zand explains, “We’ve worked with experts in obstetrics and gynecology, communications, education, information technology and more to develop a culturally sensitive, immersive VR-based curriculum to help improve physician trainees’ approach to Black maternal healthcare.”
The impact of this innovative training on the students is profound. By immersing themselves in the VR simulations, they understand how implicit bias can erode the physician-patient relationship and lead to poor health outcomes. “It’s very interactive; the student learns how the slightest comment from the physician elicits a response in the patient, with commentary about the underlying misconceptions or microaggressions that lead to communication breakdowns and alienation of the patient,” says Zand. Similarly, LaForce reflects on her experience noting how the program is “teaching me about the extent to which systemic racism affects healthcare” and how she can be a “well-informed, culturally sensitive physician.”
I am able to be involved on a project that will hopefully have a significant impact on reducing health inequity that affects BIPOC patients.
— Julia LaForce, 2nd year medical student
This novel training approach aims to increase awareness of bias and comprehensively facilitate a change in beliefs and care practices for diverse populations. “Our hope is that this evidence-based, efficacious and cost-effective approach can be a game-changer for eliminating implicit bias in clinical practice and nurturing cultural competency for many marginalized groups in our country,” Zand emphasizes.
Creighton University is proud to support and nurture innovative research that provides unique opportunities for students to lead groundbreaking studies. Maurice and his team’s dedication to improving cultural competency in healthcare enriches the academic experience and prepares future physicians to foster equitable and respectful healthcare practices.
