Bias against foreign-born or foreign-trained doctors

January 01, 0001

Bias against foreign-born or foreign-trained doctors

Bias against foreign-born or -trained medical students and doctors is not well understood, despite its documented impact on recruitment, integration and retention. The researchers from Australia and Canada experimentally examined the interaction of location of medical education and nationality in evaluations of doctors’ competence and trustworthiness. A convenience sample of prospective patients evaluated fictitious candidates for a position as a doctor in community practice at a new local health clinic. All applicants were described as having the same personality profile, legal qualifications to practise, a multi-degree education and relevant work experience. The location of medical education (the candidate’s home country or the UK) and national background (Australia or Pakistan) of the applicants were independently experimentally manipulated.

Consistent with previous research on skills discounting and bias, foreign-born candidates were evaluated less favourably than native-born candidates, despite their comparable education level, work experience and personality. However, overseas medical education obtained in the First World both boosted evaluations (of competence and trustworthiness) and attenuated bias based on nationality.

The researchers concluded: "The present findings demonstrate the selective discounting of foreign-born doctors’ credentials. The data show an interaction of location of medical education and birth nationality in bias against foreign doctors. On an applied level, the data document that the benefits of medical education obtained in the First World can extend beyond its direct outcomes (high-quality training and institutional recognition) to the indirect benefit of the attenuation of patient bias based on nationality."

This bias was seen in prospective patients but may well occur with interviewers and colleagues.


For the full abstract, click here.

Medical Education 44(12):1241-1247, December 2010
© 1999-2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Bias against foreign-born or foreign- trained doctors: experimental evidence. Winnifred R Louis, Richard N Lalonde, Victoria M Esses. Correspondence to Winnifred Louis: [email protected]

Category: Keywords: bias, foreign, doctors, fictitious candidates evaluation, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 10 December 2010

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