Unconscious Bias in Referrals for Cardiac Catheterization

Abstract This chapter explores the influence of unconscious bias on physicians' decisions to refer patients for cardiac catheterization in cases of chest pain. The underlying study revealed that race and sex significantly affected referral decisions, with Black patients and women being referred less frequently than White men, even after controlling for clinical characteristics. The results underscore how unconscious bias contributes to disparities in care and reinforces the need for improved health care equity, particularly in cardiovascular disease management. The chapter emphasizes the importance of addressing unconscious bias to ensure that all patients receive equal care, regardless of race or gender, and stresses that acknowledging and mitigating unconscious bias is essential to reduce health care disparities and improve decision-making processes.