Reducing unconscious bias in postgraduate specialist assessment in South Africa

dc.contributor.authorMrara, B.
dc.contributor.authorOladimeji, O.
dc.contributor.authorRantloane, Arthur J.
dc.contributor.authorBurch, V.C.
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-28T04:32:18Z
dc.date.available2026-01-28T04:32:18Z
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.description.abstractUnconscious bias involves making decisions, interpreting situations and forming assumptions about people based on past experiences, stereotypes, ingrained thoughts and deep-seated ideas. In diverse multicultural societies, unconscious bias has been extensively studied for its impact on social inequity including access to quality healthcare. In addition, unconscious bias can influence assessment outcomes in medical practitioner training, potentially hindering advancement towards establishing a diverse health workforce. This paper reflects on perspectives on unconscious bias in postgraduate assessments utilising a South African model as an illustration. The authors propose some practical strategies to address unconscious bias in specialist training and assessment
dc.description.departmentAnaesthesiology
dc.description.librarianam2026
dc.description.sdgSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.description.sdgSDG-04: Quality education
dc.description.sponsorshipResearch-protected time was partially supported by a Discovery Grant; the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) through its Division of Research Capacity Development under the Research Capacity Development Initiative from funding received from the South African National Treasury and the National Research Foundation, Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers (IPRR).
dc.description.urihttps://journals.co.za/journal/m.ajhpe
dc.identifier.citationMrara, B., Oladimeji, O., Rantloane, A.J. et al. 2025, 'Reducing unconscious bias in postgraduate specialist assessment in South Africa', African Journal of Health Professions Education, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 28-30. https://doi.org/10.7196/AJHPE.2025.v17i1.2089.
dc.identifier.issn2078-5127 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.7196/AJHPE.2025.v17i1.2089
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/107623
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSouth African Medical Association
dc.rights© 2025 The Author(s). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
dc.subjectUnconscious bias
dc.subjectEducational assessment
dc.subjectStereotypes
dc.titleReducing unconscious bias in postgraduate specialist assessment in South Africa
dc.typeArticle

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