Systemic biases can significantly impact patient care in several ways:
1. Quality of Care: Biases can lead to unequal treatment, where certain groups receive lower quality care. For example, studies have shown that minority patients are less likely to receive adequate pain management.
2. Trust in Healthcare Providers: Patients who perceive bias in their treatment may lose trust in healthcare providers, leading to poor adherence to medical advice and reluctance to seek care in the future.
3. Health Outcomes: Biased treatment can result in worse health outcomes for marginalized groups. This includes higher rates of chronic disease and lower life expectancy among minority populations.
