Abstract

Implicit biases are attitudes, emotions, or stereotypes that occur in an unconscious manner. Implicit biases have the potential to negatively affect behaviors, actions, and decisions. These implicit attitudes are not activated by conscious means, and as such can be difficult to acknowledge and address. There do not appear to be any studies that have examined the role of ethnic or racial implicit bias in the healthcare services provided by athletic trainers in current literature. Considering the racial, ethnic, and gender disparity in athletic training, implicit bias is an important factor to consider when assessing quality of patient care. In the absence of literature on implicit bias in athletic training, research on the impact of implicit bias in other healthcare professions must be considered. Current literature suggests that implicit bias toward vulnerable populations can have a negative impact on patient related outcomes. Although currently available research has several limitations, the potential for implicit bias negatively impacting patient outcomes is concerning. Interventions centered around setting goals and forming habits appear to be more effective than one time education sessions. Even in the presence of high-quality interventions, clinicians must still take responsibility for regular reflection and education to ensure they are mitigating the impact of any potential implicit biases on their clinical practice.