Evaluation Rationale
The March of Dimes Breaking Through Bias Training was created to provide health care professionals with skills to recognize and remedy implicit bias in maternity care settings. The training is delivered through either a live-facilitated format or through a self-paced, e-learning format. The training allows for participants to earn continuing education credits upon completion.
In 2020, the March of Dimes Breaking Through Bias Training program was implemented in two clinical sites in Cleveland, Ohio: The MetroHealth System and University Hospitals.
A longitudinal evaluation of the live-facilitated version was conducted to describe the training’s impacts on participant knowledge about bias and poor maternal and infant health, attitudes around bias, and intent to change biased behaviors in maternity settings.
Project Description
Quantitative data were collected through pre and post training surveys to collect information on participant sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge about racial bias, attitudes related to bias, and participants’ recommendations and opinions.
- Knowledge was assessed through five multiple choice questions/statements were used to assess participants’ knowledge about bias on both the pre and posttest.
- Attitudes were assessed using questions adapted from the validated Quick Discrimination Index (QDI).
Qualitative data to capture perspectives of the training were collected via semi-structured in-depth interviews with volunteer participants to gather information about perceptions of the training, changes in bias behavior among participants and other staff, and recommendations. Interview participants indicated their willingness to participate in interviews on their post-training survey and included relevant contact information.
This longitudinal evaluation was funded through sources from Case Western Research University, Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland, First Year Cleveland, and other sources.