Perceptions of racism in the health service.
OBJECTIVE
The information reported in this article formed part of a large study, which examined how the pre-registration nursing curriculum prepares students to work with minority ethnic groups. Questions on racism were asked as a subsidiary to the main area under study.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to student nurses (n = 1035) and lecturers (n = 303) teaching pre-registration students in the North West Region. Participants were also invited to record their qualitative comments.


RESULTS
The results showed that a higher percentage of lecturers than students had heard what they perceived to be racist comments in the classroom. Several students commented that racist attitudes were mainly the result of a lack of knowledge and/or ignorance.


CONCLUSIONS
From the study results, it appears that racism is still evident in the classroom and the clinical placement area.
Sawley
L
L
University of Central Lancashire, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Blackburn.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011287:Prejudice; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000193:education