title: Healthcare Providers' Formative Experiences with Race and Black Male Patients in Urban Hospital Environments.
abstract: We explored health providers' formative personal and professional experiences with race and Black men as a way to assess their potential influence on interactions with Black male patients.
  
  
  
  Utilizing convenience sampling with snowballing techniques, we identified healthcare providers in two urban university hospitals. We compared Black and White providers' experiences based on race and level of training. We used the Gardener's Tale to conceptualize how racism may lead to racial health disparities. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct in-person interviews (n = 16). Using the grounded theory approach, we conducted three types of coding to examine data patterns.
  
  
  
  We found two themes reflective of personally mediated racism: (1) perception of Black males accompanied by two subthemes (a) biased care and (b) fear and discomfort and (2) cognitive dissonance. While this latter theme is more reflective of Jones's internalized racism level, we present its results because its novelty is compelling.
  
  
  
  Perception of Black males and cognitive dissonance appear to influence providers' approaches with Black male patients. This study suggests the need to develop initiatives and curricula in health professional schools that address provider racial bias. Understanding the dynamics operating in the patient-provider encounter enhances the ability to address and reduce health disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Criminology, Howard University, 2400 Sixth Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20059, USA.
authors.forename: Marie V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Plaisime
authors.affiliation: WellStar Health System, 805 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA, 30066, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Malebranche
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Nesbitt Hall, 6th Fl., Rm. 656, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Nesbitt Hall, Room 655, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Jat65@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D063505:Racism; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Access to care; African Americans/Black; Bias; Health professionals; Health service delivery; Race/ethnicity; Racial health disparities; Racism