MOVING FROM INJUSTICE TO EQUITY: A TIME FOR THE PHARMACY PROFESSION TO TAKE ACTION: Examining the Inclusion of Race and Ethnicity in Patient Cases

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education 2021-10, Vol.85 (9), p.891
• Main Authors: Okoro, Olihe N, Arya, Vibhuti, Gaither, Caroline A, Tarfa, Adati
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Economic aspects; Health care disparities; Methods; Social aspects; Social constructionism
• ISSN: 0002-9459

Health disparities continue to exist in the United States, with the most significant differences in care occurring between racial groups. Racial health disparities are largely a result of the strong association between race and structural inequities, (differentials in the distribution of power, resources, opportunities). The use of case-based learning is common practice in pharmacy education, and the race of the patient who is the subject of the case is often included out of convention. In some cases, race is included to inform treatment based on guidelines developed from epidemiological and clinical studies that link race to disease by conferring biological significance to race categories. This continuing use of race and ethnicity to guide treatment contributes to racial health disparities and may further perpetuate existing provider implicit bias. This paper discusses the pedagogical approach of using patient cases and the convention, propriety, and implications of including race in patient cases, and guides pharmacy educators in how to use information on race. Keywords: race, patient case, social determinants of health, pharmacy education, structural inequities