Effects of strategies to tackle racism experienced by healthcare professionals: a systematic review.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training interventions on race inequalities experienced by healthcare professionals.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: Cochrane, MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from database inception to February 2024.

Eligibility Criteria: Randomised trials, observational studies and mixed-methods studies published in English were included. Studies that reported the effects of EDI training interventions targeting healthcare professionals were included.

Date Extraction And Synthesis: A narrative synthesis approach was used to evaluate the impact of EDI interventions on healthcare professionals.

Results: 17 studies were included. EDI interventions were delivered using several methods including didactic, group discussion, game-based learning or a combination of methods. Out of nine studies, eight (88.9%) interventions resulted in an improvement in knowledge and awareness. Five studies reviewed the effect on cultural competence and four (80.0%) improved cultural competence. Out of eight studies, six (75.0%) resulted in willingness to change and skills gained to promote behavioural change. Most of the improvements seen were with theory-based, multimethod curriculum in comparison to a non-theory-based didactic approach. However, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that these interventions impact the racism that healthcare professionals from an ethnic/racial minoritised group experience.

Conclusions: EDI interventions may improve healthcare workers' knowledge and awareness of racial inequalities and cultural competence. Although a willingness to change may occur and behavioural change is promoted, there is insufficient evidence from this review to suggest that this reduces the experience of racism.