New Method to Measure and Operationalize Inclusive Culture in Healthcare

A study published in JAMA Network Open details a method for measuring inclusiveness of workplace culture using six variables, reports ScienceDaily . Those factors include the presence of discrimination; silent witness; effectiveness of organizational leadership and mentors; interplay of hierarchy, recognition, and civility; support for work-life balance; and perceptions of exclusion from inclusion efforts. The researchers also found environments lacking inclusion appeared to affect the well-being of those who either experienced or witnessed it alike, and induced stress, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness, social isolation, and expendability. Narratives frequently described how micro-aggressions and favoritism eroded participants' sense of value and restricted their engagement and contributions to the organization. Approaches for cultivating an inclusive organizational culture came from the narratives in the form of direct recommendations and positive examples of inclusion. Most respondents cited a systemic culture that influenced their group and interpersonal dynamics, with recommendations centered on system-level interventions, such as delivering inclusive skills training to existing leadership, revisiting organizational policies, developing advocacy campaigns, and broadening professional networks to gain new perspectives and create a greater sense of community.