Investigating Implicit Bias in Referrals to Psychological Therapies in Mental Health Services: Review and Recommendations

This dataset supports a project examining the biases that may influence healthcare professionals when referring patients to community psychological therapies. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, can shape how patient information is perceived and interpreted, potentially leading to unequal access to necessary mental health support. This review explores the different ways such biases may emerge and impact decisions about which patients receive referrals for psychological therapies.

The dataset consists of three parts:

1. Types of Biases: The “Concepts” sheet defines various biases, such as fundamental attribution error and confirmation bias, that may subtly or overtly impact healthcare professionals’ decisions. These definitions serve as a foundation to understand how biases might play a role in referral practices.

2. Research Studies: The “Selected Papers” sheet provides a list of research studies that have explored bias in healthcare settings. Each entry includes information about the study, the type of bias investigated, and its effects on patient outcomes. This information covers various demographics and healthcare settings, offering insights into how and where biases affect referral processes.

3. Search Methodology: The “Search Strategy” sheet outlines the databases and methods used to gather studies for this project, including searches in EMBASE and OVID. This strategy ensures a thorough collection of relevant literature for a more complete analysis.