Principal Investigators: Amy Bayliss, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Robyn Fuchs, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences
Project Title: Color Awareness: IU DPT's Handbook for Clinical Signs in all Skin Tones
Funding Level: $5000
Abstract: Healthcare systems worldwide have widespread disparities, with minority patients experiencing poorer health outcomes whether that is due to race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status. In the USA, these disparities became even more apparent during the coronavirus pandemic where the loss of life is disproportionately greater for economically vulnerable populations, Hispanic/Latinos and African Americans. Disparity can also occur in well intentioned healthcare providers if they are not color aware and are instead color “blind”. Color “blindness” can occur in healthcare if a patient’s skin color is not taken into consideration during a clinical examination. A clinical example is a test used to assess for a pressure injury where light pressure is applied to the skin to test for a blanch response. But in patients with a dark skin tone, the greater amounts of melanin may mask the blanch response. Additionally, color “blindness” is very apparent in medical textbooks with most photographs and images of clinical test outcomes shown in individuals who are Caucasian with lighter or white skin tones. Color awareness acknowledges that skin color is relevant to health and should not be ignored. By applying color awareness to health assessment, healthcare professionals can more appropriately manage patients of all skin colors and help reduce disparities in healthcare delivery. The purpose of this project is to develop a resource with clinical signs, test results and outcomes of interventions shown in all skin tones.