Ableism in healthcare study receives $3.2 million from NIH

The University of Washington has been awarded a groundbreaking five-year, $3.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the impact of ableism in healthcare. The project, titled "Determining the Relationships Between Provider Bias, Experiences of Ableism, and Health Outcomes for People with Mobility Disabilities," will explore how ableism and biases from healthcare providers affect the health of people with mobility disabilities. This historic project is the first R01 grant to focus on ableism, a significant achievement in advancing disability health research.

“We're thrilled for this opportunity, and to see funding agencies like the NIH recognizing the importance of studying the impact of ableism since it impacts every aspect of life, including healthcare, for people with and without disabilities” says project lead Dr. Heather Feldner, an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. “This work will allow us to draw connections between accessibility, experiences of ableism, and provider bias and see how people's everyday lives and health are impacted. The potential reach of what we will learn is tremendous.”

The project will examine explicit and implicit biases among rehabilitation professionals as well as patients’ experiences of perceived ableism. In addition, it will assess the effects bias and ableism on patients' health outcomes, including pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. The findings will provide insights into how ableism is perpetuated in healthcare. These insights may lead to more effective solutions to reduce bias among healthcare providers. The ultimate goal is to maximize participation, health, and quality of life in people with mobility disabilities.

Dr. Feldner is co-PI on this project, along with Dr. Lynn Worobey from the University of Pittsburgh. The team also includes Dr. Jeanne Hoffman, Dr. Heather Evans, and Dr. Mark Harniss from the UW Department of Rehabilitation, along with Dr. Lucy Lu Wang from the UW Information School.