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. 2025 Jan 9;15(1):e091811.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091811.

Effects of strategies to tackle racism experienced by healthcare professionals: a systematic review

Nicola Okeahialam  1 , Oluwatosin Salami  2 , Farah Siddiqui  2   3 , Shakila Thangaratinam  4   5 , Asma Khalil  3 , Ranee Thakar  6   7
Affiliations

Effects of strategies to tackle racism experienced by healthcare professionals: a systematic review

Nicola Okeahialam et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training interventions on race inequalities experienced by healthcare professionals.

Design: Systematic review.

Data sources: Cochrane, MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from database inception to February 2024.

Eligibility criteria: Randomised trials, observational studies and mixed-methods studies published in English were included. Studies that reported the effects of EDI training interventions targeting healthcare professionals were included.

Date extraction and synthesis: A narrative synthesis approach was used to evaluate the impact of EDI interventions on healthcare professionals.

Results: 17 studies were included. EDI interventions were delivered using several methods including didactic, group discussion, game-based learning or a combination of methods. Out of nine studies, eight (88.9%) interventions resulted in an improvement in knowledge and awareness. Five studies reviewed the effect on cultural competence and four (80.0%) improved cultural competence. Out of eight studies, six (75.0%) resulted in willingness to change and skills gained to promote behavioural change. Most of the improvements seen were with theory-based, multimethod curriculum in comparison to a non-theory-based didactic approach. However, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that these interventions impact the racism that healthcare professionals from an ethnic/racial minoritised group experience.

Conclusions: EDI interventions may improve healthcare workers' knowledge and awareness of racial inequalities and cultural competence. Although a willingness to change may occur and behavioural change is promoted, there is insufficient evidence from this review to suggest that this reduces the experience of racism.

Keywords: Education, Medical; Hospitals; Job Satisfaction; Psychological Stress; Quality of Life; Systematic Review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: FS, AK and RT are employed by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG). There is no financial relationship with the RCOG that has influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram. PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Risk of Bias for the studies using a quasi-experimental design and qualitative using the Joanna Briggs Institute Tool.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Key themes identified from the literature in keeping with the three categories of EDI interventions. EDI, equality, diversity and inclusion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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