Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Psychological Science
Advisor/Mentor
Anastasia Makhanova
Committee Member
Bill Levine
Second Committee Member
Jeffrey Lewis
Third Committee Member
Ashley Purdy
Abstract
Health disparities are well-documented in medical care, including in women’s health counseling. Importantly, physicians’ treatment decisions impact women’s health outcomes, as decisions such as prescribing hormonal contraceptives come with numerous physical and emotional side effects for women. One explanation for disparate healthcare is the presence of stereotyping and implicit bias amongst physicians. This study aimed to capture physicians’ beliefs and treatment recommendations for women seeking gynecological care. Physicians reviewed patient profiles, including a photo and name for women belonging to one of four racial or ethnic groups, then rated their perceptions and treatment recommendations for each hypothetical patient. Race and ethnicity were associated with significant differences in physician beliefs and treatment recommendations. Specifically, Asian women were rated as less likely to be sexually promiscuous, and physicians endorsed STD testing and hormonal contraceptives less to this group. Further, physicians rated Latina women as more likely to become pregnant, following previously established ethnic stereotypes for this group. Interestingly, physicians prescribed long-acting hormonal contraceptives (LARCs) more frequently than oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) to all women. These results reveal physicians may be forming biased beliefs and making biased treatment recommendations for women without considering individual needs, preferences, and autonomy. As such, there is a need to educate physicians on health counseling, stereotypes, and implicit bias to promote an individualized approach to gynecological care, especially amongst patients of diverse backgrounds.
Keywords
Women's health; Physician bias; Hormonal Contraception; Health Disparities
Citation
Lobb, J. (2026). Biases in Medical Care: Examining Physician Practices in Women's Health Counseling Based on Patient Race and Ethnicity. Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/psycuht/97
