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New research from Columbia University School of Nursing reveals that stigmatizing language is frequently used in clinicians’ notes about laboring and birthing individuals. The study, published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN), analyzed 1,771 clinical and labor notes from two large hospitals in 2017.
The most common form of bias found was the inclusion of unjustified descriptions of social and behavioral risks, such as suspected substance use, domestic violence, or teen pregnancy, appearing in 22.4% of the notes. Other forms of stigmatizing language included:
- “Difficult” patient descriptions: 7.2% of notes
- Language emphasizing power or privilege: 5.2% (e.g., mentioning a patient’s husband’s high-powered job)
- Unilateral decision-making language: 4%
- Questioning patient credibility: 2.9%
- Clinician disapproval: 1.1%
Conversely, positive language, such as using words like “endorses” or “reports” to convey a patient’s perspective, was found in only 10.8% of the notes.
The study highlights the potential impact of such biased language on patient care, particularly given that previous research has shown higher rates of biased language in the medical records of Black patients compared to white patients.
“We aim to improve clinical documentation that reflects each person’s autonomy, is patient-centered, and demonstrates respect to achieve the ultimate goal of developing more inclusive and equitable health care practices for all in the perinatal period,” the researchers stated.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the provided information and aims to present the research findings in a clear and concise manner.
Note: This article avoids making specific claims about racial disparities in biased language while acknowledging the existing research on this topic.
