Assessing Bias Toward a Black or White Simulated Patient with Obesity in a Virtual Reality-Based Genomics Encounter.

ABSTRACT: Interpersonal bias based on weight and race is widespread in the clinical setting; it is crucial to investigate how emerging genomics technologies will interact with and influence such biases in the future. The current study uses a virtual reality (VR) simulation to investigate the influence of apparent patient race and provision of genomic information on medical students' implicit and explicit bias toward a virtual patient with obesity. Eighty-four third- and fourth-year medical students (64% female, 42% White) were randomized to interact with a simulated virtual patient who appeared as Black versus White, and to receive genomic risk information for the patient versus a control report. We assessed biased behavior during the simulated encounter and self-reported attitudes toward the virtua

SUBMITTER: Persky S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11631797 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature