Course
Practice-Informed Research in Health Systems
Document Type
Capstone
Publication Date
Fall 12-1-2024
Purpose
Racial bias affects health management, especially for Black women. This study compares experiences of Black and White women during the menopause transition, aiming to identify disparities and potential causes. The findings will inform social work practices to improve the health care disparities among Black women in comparison to White women. The research identifies Black and White women transitioning in menopause and whether Black women receive discriminatory practices by healthcare professionals. Evidence of discriminatory practice extends to healthcare practitioners treating participants with courtesy, overall experience of treatment, and admission of experience of discrimination based on their ethnicity/race. Additional open-ended questions provided for participants to share their experiences further.
Methods
The research design is a mixed method that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative research provides a comprehensive analysis of data gathered through a Google Forms questionnaire. Of the twenty-one participants surveyed or questioned, only nineteen of those who qualified were able to participate in the actual data collection and assessment process.
Findings & Conclusions
The study reveals that 38-58% of Black and White women shared experience of dismissive behavior by healthcare practitioner, citing other or expounding on their experience. Of significant experience, one identified AA women participant explained in detail the treatment by one medical practitioner as other but further detailed how the practitioner and medical team discriminated against them in the form of being ignored when addressing health concerns, becoming irate, dismissive, missing scheduled appointment, announced having other patients to see, hung up on a phone conversation; removed themselves in the middle of conversation without addressing or answering any questions. Although this could be an isolated experience, another WA participant also shared a similar experience but not to that extent, of the medical staff dismissing the patient based on “sizeism” or “weight stigma” and prescribing them blood pressure medicine although they state at home, they have normal readings. This participant states ‘white coat syndrome, for the high blood pressure reading. When the patient questions the doctor’s thoughts, the doctor has become upset and marked refuses to exercise on the reading chart. This participant filed a grievance on the medical practitioner and met with other medical staff commenting about non-accessible information. This is a form of discrimination, but this opens the conversation for patients to discuss with social workers the frustration and experiences engaging with healthcare practitioners. The other AA participant stated medical staff neither listen nor acknowledge their concerns. Another AA participant stated healthcare practitioners charted incorrectly and felt discriminated based on “sizeism, or “weight stigma.” Of the two WA participants, they stated other but expounded in detail their experience with discrimination based on sizeism or engaging in their health concerns. Of the two AA participants they associated race/ethnicity, related bias as well with one citing similar experiences to WA women participants stating other. Second finding, is acknowledging the genetic differences Black/AA women have in comparison to WA women, makes transition in menopause a cause to study. Black/AA women start menopause nine months earlier compared to White women. Understanding the cause influences the treatment or diagnosis of menopause. (Bass, 2023). If genetically AA women experience menopause at an earlier rate than the compared status quo of White women, studies should continue to include social determinants such as physiology: body mass index, bone density, and genetic health risks. As well as assess and screen for social determinants such as access to quality healthcare in opening non-profit clinics specifically addressing hormonal challenges. In opening non-profit clinics focusing on women’s healthcare, they can offer hormonal assessments, holistic/naturopathic treatment, clinical support for mental and social wellbeing. Using tools like Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) to determine menopausal symptoms and move towards management and treatment of those symptoms. Including in the assessment, environmental factors contributing to the management and treatment of symptoms. Medical institutions should be accessible for women from lower socioeconomic structures; conduct and measure stress levels using stress tests to screen for cardio utilized by the Mayo Clinic. (Mayo Clinic, 2024).
Recommendations
Women experiencing transitions in menopause should receive support from healthcare professionals, social workers, and other community resources. Participants stated the need for access to holistic and educational awareness of how to treat and manage menopause symptoms with the aid of healthcare professionals. On the mezzo level, more organizations should receive funding and support managing menopause symptoms. The government should enact in law and legislate support and financing of menopause education, advertise educational awareness campaigns, mandate training and education for healthcare professionals to treat menopausal women with cultural competencies. All healthcare agencies should make it mandatory training for women’s health with focus on menopause transitions as part of the reproductive education for all healthcare professionals, educators, and businesses. In addition, the workplace human resources should comply with the mandates, supporting employees with support and resources to manage and navigate the course of menopause. Making health insurance companies accountable for health coverage and support for clinical services. Therefore, eliminating explicit and implicit biases experienced by AA women and the BIPOC community. (Vela et. al, 2022).
Recommended Citation
Nelson-Glenn, Yejide, "Navigating Menopause: Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare Practitioners and Black Women for Improved Clinical Support and Health Equity" (2024). MSW Capstone Conference. 26.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/msw-conference/26
