Design The study employed a randomised controlled trial methodology and it was delivered electronically as a survey. Intervention Fifty-seven primary and secondary care dentists were randomised to two experimental groups. The participants in both groups assessed a vignette (clinical scenario, clinical photograph and radiograph) with the only difference between the vignettes in the two groups being the patient's race (skin colour: Black or White). The scenario was a case of a severely carious first lower molar with signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis.Outcome measures The dentists' clinical treatment decisions (recommendation of root canal treatment or extraction) were recorded. A previously validated Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT) was used to measure implicit racial bias.Results A statistically significant difference in dentists' recommendations was observed. Recommendation of root canal treatment was greater for White patients (86.21%) compared to the Black patients (60.71%) and dentists were far more likely to recommend extraction in the Black patient group. The BIAT scores also indicated that pro-White unconscious racial bias was prevalent amongst the participants. Conclusion A patient's race may influence a dentist's decision whether to extract or retain a decayed tooth.

中文翻译：

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患者的种族特征在多大程度上影响我们的临床决策？

设计研究采用了一项随机对照试验方法，并以电子方式作为调查提供。干预将57位初级和二级保健牙医随机分为两个实验组。两组参与者评估了一个小插图（临床情况，临床照片和射线照相），两组小插图之间的唯一区别是患者的种族（肤色：黑色或白色）。该病例为严重龋齿的第一下磨牙，伴有不可逆性牙髓炎的体征和症状。结果措施记录牙医的临床治疗决策（推荐根管治疗或拔牙）。先前经过验证的简短内隐联想测验（BIAT）用于测量内隐种族偏见。结果观察到牙医建议的统计差异显着。与黑人患者（60.71％）相比，白人患者（86.21％）的根管治疗建议更高，而牙医在黑人患者组中建议拔除根管的可能性更大。BIAT分数还表明，参与者中普遍存在赞成白人的无意识种族偏见。结论患者的种族可能会影响牙医决定拔牙还是保留蛀牙。BIAT分数还表明，参与者中普遍存在赞成白人的无意识种族偏见。结论患者的种族可能会影响牙医决定拔牙还是保留蛀牙。BIAT分数还表明，参与者中普遍存在赞成白人的无意识种族偏见。结论患者的种族可能会影响牙医决定拔牙还是保留蛀牙。