Exploring the impact of microaggressions on the genetic counseling student-supervisor relationship: A qualitative study.

Autor: Ramsey K; Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.; Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA., Carmichael N; Department of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA., Gutierrez-Kapheim M; College of Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA., Dell-Suguitan MD; ACL Laboratories, Advocate Aurora Health, Rosemont, Illinois, USA.; Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Illinois, USA., Bao AK; Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.; Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA., Hoell C; Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of genetic counseling [J Genet Couns] 2024 Feb; Vol. 33 (1), pp. 41-53. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 15.
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1876
Abstrakt: Genetic counseling students with minoritized identities have reported experiencing microaggressions throughout graduate training, including from fieldwork supervisors. However, the impacts of these fieldwork experiences have not been thoroughly investigated. As supervision is known to be integral to genetic counseling students' skill development and success, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the impact of microaggressions on student training, with a specific focus on the supervisory working alliance. To achieve this goal, we conducted 11 interviews with recent genetic counseling graduates (2019-2021) who reported experiencing at least one microaggression from a fieldwork supervisor during graduate school training. Purposive sampling was used to prioritize interviewees who identified as underrepresented in the field due to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or disability status. All interviewees were initially recruited as part of a larger mixed-methods study investigating the frequency and types of microaggressions genetic counseling students experience from fieldwork supervisors. Interview questions explored the time period before a microaggression event, during the event, and after. Qualitative thematic analysis resulted in four themes, three of which are presented in this paper: (1) Impact of microaggressions, (2) Barriers to reporting microaggressions, and (3) Experience reporting microaggressions. Microaggressions from supervisors were shown to impair the psychological well-being of participants and hinder learning opportunities. These experiences led participants to question their choice of profession and avoid time in clinic, ultimately constraining the development of strong supervisory working alliances. Some participants did not report microaggressions due to fear of negative repercussions, and those who did described defensive responses which harmed students' relationships with program leadership. This study reveals opportunities for supervisors to improve student training conditions by centering students' feelings and experiences, increasing open and honest communication, and extending psychosocial tools to supervision. Additionally, graduate programs are encouraged to establish structured reporting protocols for students and evaluate current shortcomings in equity and inclusion initiatives.
(© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Genetic Counseling published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Society of Genetic Counselors.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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