About This Project

Muslim healthcare providers constitute a growing, diverse and underrepresented population in the U.S. Culturally inclusive dress policies in the workplace are not standard. This study explores how healthcare leaders and partners perceive Muslim healthcare providers, including those who wear hijab. The data will provide information that can help initiate changes in organizations to provide an environment that enables Muslim healthcare providers to feel comfortable providing optimum healthcare.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Since the 9/11 attacks the U.S. culture has directed greater negativity towards Muslims. The Paris attacks in 2015 have increased anti-Muslim negativity. The range of subtle intolerance to severe discrimination is currently affecting Muslim healthcare providers in the workplace. Muslim healthcare providers already struggle on a daily basis to incorporate religious practices into the work environment and additional anti-Muslim behavior from healthcare leaders and colleagues can lead to burnout, feelings of exhaustion, feelings of exclusion, and potential departure from the nursing profession.

What is the significance of this project?

For healthcare professionals to embrace diversity, healthcare leaders must be aware of how attitudes and behaviors, including discrimination, affect Muslim healthcare providers in the U.S. This study will explore the attitudes and beliefs of healthcare leaders' regarding Muslim healthcare providers, including those who choose to cover their head and neck (hijabi). From our findings we will provide insight into how to develop interventions toward ensuring healthcare workplace policies and procedures are inclusive and respectful of Muslim populations. Further, our results may inform education, healthcare practices, and organizations about the need to implement effective organizational policies to accommodate Muslims, as well as various other culturally diverse populations.

What are the goals of the project?

The current project is Phase I of a research study and involves developing a survey instrument to canvas healthcare leaders' attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of cultural and clinical considerations when working with Muslim healthcare providers. Survey pilot testing, including the use of content experts, will be conducted to ensure reliability and validity; thereby resulting in a revised survey instrument for future use in Phase II of the research study. The research study's specific aims are (1) to understand how healthcare leaders perceive their Muslim peers and (2) use this knowledge to develop culturally inclusive environments in the workplace with the overall goal of increasing cultural awareness to better recruit and retain diverse populations within healthcare professions.