The Power of Narrative: Empowering interprofessional teams to promote health equity by reflecting on bias and unpacking stigmatizing language

Abstract

Reflecting on one's personal narrative can expose language that unwittingly expresses bias. As healthcare providers, unpacking one's narrative can promote more equitable interprofessional communication and patient care. This article describes an interactive workshop at the 2023 National Academies of Practice (NAP) Annual Meeting and Forum, where participants wrote and reflected on their personal narratives to identify bias, hierarchies, and positionality. Use of equity-focused language to empower an inclusive interprofessional healthcare culture and strategies for promoting access, removing structural barriers to care, and enabling anti-racist behaviors were explored. Workshop synthesis occurred using an innovative “fishbowl” discussion to enable feedback and identify themes, barriers, and facilitators. Program evaluation showed high participant satisfaction (4.73/5). Used as a curricular resource, this approach outlines an effective framework for engaging participants in writing, reflection, and dialogue to promote equitable, accessible, and collaborative healthcare.