Grant: Project Grant

Goal: To improve the fair and respectful treatment of patients having surgery who have experienced racism and increase patients' involvement in their care by understanding current problems in care, using existing tools for surgical safety and patient engagement. Background: Despite having a publicly funded health system, not all patients are treated fairly in Canada. Racism can lead to patients being treated less fairly and having less individual power in surgical care. These concerns may be worse for patients who experience racism but who also have other characteristics that put them at risk for unfair treatment, for example, characteristics related to gender, sexual orientation, or social position. Patients can be empowered if there are pathways to becoming more involved in their care and an opportunity to promote justice for themselves and other patients. Standard communication tools used in the care of surgical patients could be used to promote this process, including surgical consent and the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC), to address fairness and improve patient involvement, offering an opportunity to improve both surgical outcomes and the patient experience. Objectives: 1.To describe how racism affects surgery outcomes across Canada. 2.To explore racialized patients' experiences with surgery. Methods: First, we will collect data from administrative databases to explore how racism affects surgical outcomes by linking large Canadian databases. Second, we will use surveys and focus groups to learn from racialized patients about their experiences with surgery and what makes them feel engaged and fairly treated. Dissemination: Our findings will be shared through publications and news media coverage, presentations, social media, and partner organizations. We will work with community partners to ensure that patients, clinicians, and policymakers are aware of the findings.