Racism in healthcare (RiGeV)

Racism in healthcare can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of healthcare users and lead to structural problems and an unequal distribution of healthcare resources. There is little empirical evidence on racism in the German health care system.

The RiGeV project aims to close this gap by analysing racism in healthcare using a mixed-methods approach. RiGeV consists of three sub-projects. One of these sub-projects is being carried out at Witten/Herdecke University and includes a social media and document analysis as well as a quantitative online survey of care users on their experiences of discrimination in the health care system. In addition, a quantitative survey of hospitals and rehabilitation facilities will be conducted to find out what counselling and complaint options are available in connection with discrimination in the health care system and how facilities deal with feedback from care users.

The results will be used to identify starting points for organisational change in healthcare facilities and to promote awareness of the issue of racism in healthcare.