Inclusion Efforts Research Articles

Current State of Diversity in Orthopaedic Surgery Residency and Future Direction: A Review

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the least diverse fields in medicine. Barriers to increasing the racial, gender, and sexual minority diversity of residents include pervasive negative impressions about the culture in orthopaedic surgery; lack of early exposure to and education about orthopaedics; new large-scale diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that have yet to become fully established; and lack of mentorship from those with shared backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, or race. Recently, there have been several pipeline initiatives aimed at exposing women and underrepresented minority students to orthopaedics and medicine early in their careers, which have shown remarkable success. Toward this goal, recent recommendations from Nth Dimensions have provided a toolkit to help recruit and maintain diverse trainees. Furthermore, advocating for further funding and support of initiatives from national organizations that lead the field of orthopaedics will be paramount to institutionalizing efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the orthopaedic community.

Understanding the Role of Community Training Centers on Skill-Based Entrepreneurial Training Among Women in Kashmir

Despite global efforts for women's inclusion in the workforce, challenges persist, especially in conflict-affected areas where socio-political, economic, and cultural norms further impede their economic participation. We situate our work in Kashmir, India, a region with a long history of socio-political unrest. We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with women from a non-government organization operating community training centers in Kashmir. These training centers have been established, focusing on skill development to encourage women to venture into entrepreneurship. Our findings reveal socio-political and cultural factors influence women's struggles. We emphasize the vital role of these centers and the role of technology in these centers. Finally, we offer socio-technical design recommendations to support women's skill-building and entrepreneurship.

Inhabited Ideology: Diversity Ideology and Approaches to Racial Equity Across Institutional Sectors

Sociologists study diversity as both the cornerstone idea of an emergent dominant racial ideology and an organizational strategy to address racial inequality. How do diversity workers adapt this ideology to the institutional demands of their organizational contexts? The authors bring research on racial ideology and inhabited institutionalism together to propose a theory of inhabited ideology by showing that institutional myths—cultural ideals that organizations must engage with to maintain legitimacy within their institutional sector—mediate diversity ideology to create local ideological tenets which shape and justify organizational approaches to racial equity. The authors use two case studies to show that workers charged with addressing racial inequality in public and private K–12 schools interpret the demands of their work and develop racial equity programming in ways that align with sector-specific institutional myths. The authors argue for additional uses of this theory to examine the intersection of ideology and organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across sectors.

Tax Goes to Campus as an Effort to Include Tax Awareness at LP3I Tasikmalaya Polytechnic

This activity explores the implementation of the "Tax Goes to Campus" program as an inclusive effort to raise tax awareness among students at Politeknik LP3I Tasikmalaya. Held on October 31, 2024, the program aimed to enhance understanding and awareness of tax obligations among the younger generation in alignment with the vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045. Through a participatory approach, this community service involved tax education delivered by experts from the Tasikmalaya Tax Office. The methods used included interactive seminars, discussions, and post-session evaluations to assess the effectiveness of this initiative. Results indicated a significant increase in students' understanding of tax contributions to national development and their roles as responsible citizens. This activity concludes that such programs promote tax literacy and contribute to long-term national growth. This activity implies that sustainable tax education in higher education is essential to shape future leaders who are proactive and tax-aware.

Exploring Media Framing Typologies of Human Trafficking in Contemporary Print Media

The role of media particularly print media in representing and portraying issues has become unquestionable in the globalized world. This review article explores the utilization of media framing typologies in contemporary print media. It also provides insights and deeper understanding on how modern newspapers frame issues, influence and shape public opinion, and use media framing types in today’s world. In addition to this, the review article discusses how media framing influences public perception by highlighting specific elements of a story regarding human trafficking. It particularly focuses on media framing typologies in contemporary print media Like the Astana Times, The Guardian, The Ethiopian Herald and Arab News. It finds out that prognostic frames were employed by the media to a larger extent to show that inclusive efforts and collaborations are necessary to combat human trafficking. Moreover, diagnostic frames were used to some extent to define the problems of human trafficking and to show the causes of occurrences. The newspapers employed motivational frames to construct the victims of human trafficking. Besides, attribution of responsibility frames was utilized highly comparing to a conflict, economic consequence and human-interest frames.

The Phenomenon of LGBTQ Battle Fatigue: A Conceptual Analysis for the Organization

LGBTQ individuals often face unique challenges in the workplace, including systemic discrimination, microaggressions, and a lack of inclusive workplace cultures. These factors can lead to a chronic state of stress and exhaustion known as LGBTQ Battle Fatigue, a term coined by author Stacey Morin. This research examines the psychological, social, and organizational factors contributing to this phenomenon. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis, the impact of LGBTQ Battle Fatigue on individual well-being and organizational culture is considered. Stereotyping and discrimination emerged from the research. The relevance of this research lies in the critical role inclusion plays in addressing systemic inequalities and ensuring fair treatment, access, and opportunities for all individuals. The main purpose of this study is to analyze how LGBTQ Battle Fatigue may affect the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion efforts, potentially leading to superficial diversity measures, employee disillusionment, and reputational risks for organizations. The author’s contribution to solving the scientific problem under study involves a theoretical framework application using Organizational Justice Theory and Queer Theory which allows for a nuanced examination of how systemic inequalities might persist or worsen when not addressed. This application demonstrates the importance of a theoretical basis for analyzing such complex issues. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of LGBTQ Battle Fatigue and provides insights into the necessity of maintaining a focus on inclusion to promote genuine inclusivity and fairness in the workplace.

A New Crowdfunding Model for Financial Inclusion Based on Donations and Interest-Free Debt: A Fuzzy Agent-Based Simulation Approach

Purpose — Although microfinance was initially heralded as a promising methodology for reducing poverty, it has become increasingly criticised. Hence, calls for innovative models that promote financial inclusion have intensified. This research aims to fill in this gap by developing a new model that combines donation-based crowdfunding with interest-free lending, and subsequently evaluating its performance using appropriate decision-making tools. Design/Methodology/Approach — The study adopts an agent-based perspective whereby the idea is to encode the behaviour and decisions of the model’s entities in straightforward rules and subsequently analyse the outcomes of their interactions through agent-based simulation (ABS). To address the uncertainty inherent in human agents’ judgements, a fuzzy logic inference system has been incorporated as well. Findings — Findings show that the proposed model has (i) a better success rate in funding new entrepreneurs, (ii) higher collection of management fees, and (iii) a reduced number of failed projects. This model incorporates monitoring to reduce moral hazard risks and provides health and life insurance for entrepreneurs, ensuring both project efficiency and the well-being of the entrepreneurs. Originality/Value — This study contributes to the Islamic crowdfunding (ICF) literature by introducing a new hybrid model that integrates donations with interest-free loans. It explores the impact of this design on crowdfunding platform success and the well-being of micro-entrepreneurs, using an agent-based perspective. Research Limitations/Implications — Despite its merits, the proposed model has certain limitations. Like many crowdfunding models, entrepreneurs who fail to secure financing may be susceptible to the risk of idea theft. Concerning model validation, although a significant portion of the model’s data is calibrated using real data, the conception and simulation introduce certain free parameters (such as the learning factor and monitoring efficiency), which renders the validation process somewhat challenging. Practical Implications — This innovative solution can help crowdfunding platforms refine their policies and interventions to enhance project funding success and contribute significantly to broader financial inclusion efforts.

Student-Athletes Perceptions on the LGBTQIA+ Member Inclusion in Gender- specific Sports in the Philippine Educational System

This study explored and analyzed the perceptions of students' athletes regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion in gender-specific sports in the Philippine Educational System. In order to better understand the perceptions of student-athletes from about LGBTQIA+ participants in any gender-specific sports, we used structured interviews. This study was led by a qualitative methodology, especially a phenomenological research design. Phenomenology is a qualitative research method that is ultimately suitable for gaining a thorough understanding of the effective process that describes the informant's life experiences. Through this design, we investigated how student athletes perceived the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in gender-specific sports from various perspectives. This study comes up different results, Inclusion and Acceptance of LGBTQIA+ Individuals in Sports, Gender-Inclusive Practices and Competence in Sports, Mitigating Gender Identity Discrimination, Identity Expression, and Comfort in Sports, Equality and Equity in Training Regardless of Identity, Gender Identity in Sports, Absence of Gender Identity-Based Exclusions and Inclusion Efforts. In conclusion, having a member who identifies as LGBTQIA+ is not a curse nor a blessing because athletes do not find it offensive; instead, it brings them joy at the end of a long day. Athletes contribute what they can because they feel respected by their teammates.

Case Study on Public Service Responsibility Implementation in Surabaya via the Broadband Learning Centre Programme

This study explores the Broadband Learning Centre (BLC) Programme in Surabaya, Indonesia, a municipal initiative to promote digital inclusion and technology access. Through a case study approach, it examines BLC’s strategies to bridge the digital divide, enhance digital literacy, and serve underserved groups, aligning with public service objectives. The research assesses BLC’s effectiveness, explores the challenges in managing and sustaining such initiatives, and addresses a gap in literature on targeted digital inclusion efforts in urban governance. The findings aim to provide insights into the operational model, challenges, and social impact of the BLC Programme, offering implications for similar initiatives seeking to integrate public service responsibilities and advance digital equity in other urban settings.

Creating a Standardized Instrument to Assess ADEI Efforts in Social Work Programs

Purpose: Under the Council on Social Work Education 2022 Education and Policy Accreditation Standards, social work programs must have a systematic plan to “assess anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (ADEI) efforts within the program's implicit curriculum”. This article outlines development, piloting, and related statistical analyses of the SWEAP ADEI Instrument. This standardized instrument is designed to facilitate student assessment of program ADEI efforts within the implicit curriculum. Methods: Students from two social work programs piloted the instrument. An expert panel evaluated the instrument construct, content, and face validity. Results: Construct, content, and face validity of the entire instrument, as well as the construct subscales, were secured through expert involvement in the process of instrument development. Internal Consistency and Test–Retest analyses confirm reliability of the instrument. Conclusions: The reliability and validity of the SWEAP ADEI Instrument is supported.

Equity Analysis of a Reproductive Health Association: a Case Study.

To demonstrate the process and results of an equity analysis of a reproductive health association. A series of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews were conducted with employees of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM), assessing different aspects of equity. Amaka Consulting and Evaluation Services, LLC, an external consulting agency, analyzed the results and provided recommendations for improvements. Between 25% and 33% of the employees identified as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Staff expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the organization's alignment to its mission and commitment to equity. Turnover was higher among BIPOC employees, and employees of color were less likely to say they had confidence in senior management. Themes that arose frequently in surveys included the need for increased communication around equity action steps, greater accountability, and work environment issues. Qualitative interviews indicated acknowledgment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts but feeling that they were not as legitimate as they could be and vocalized a need for more equitable hiring. Recommendations for improvements included tracking feedback around social movements; conducting equity impact assessments; supporting staff through salary, opportunities for advancement, and better supervision; requiring management to attend equity initiatives, and creating equity resources for staff. This study provides a template for other evaluations of equity. Similar to other organizations in the field, this equity analysis suggests that PPLM had a stronger commitment to certain aspects of DEI than others, and that there was a need for improvement in several areas, particularly hiring and management.

Changes in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Activities of Family Medicine Departments.

Institutional racism causes worse health outcomes for patients of racial/ethnic minority groups via limited access to health care, disparities in quality of care delivered, and lack of physician diversity. Increased attention to racism in 2020 led many medical institutions to examine their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. In the context of increased national attention to health equity, this study sought to investigate the current status of DEI infrastructure by evaluating leadership and support related to DEI in family medicine departments in 2020 and 2021. We analyzed department and chair characteristics as well as departmental DEI infrastructure (ie, leadership and actions) from Association of Departments of Family Medicine survey data in 2020 (data collected from June to September 2020) and 2021 (data collected from September to December 2021). We performed multiple regression analyses to evaluate whether department characteristics or specific DEI activities were associated with increased DEI infrastructure in 2021 compared to 2020. Of the 165 department chairs sent the survey in both 2020 and 2021, 56 (33.9%) responded both years. Departments with a designated DEI leader increased from 42.9% in 2020 to 60.7% in 2021, but about 40% of departments lacked key supports for this position (ie, funding, staff support, and a pathway for advancement). Regression analysis did not demonstrate associations between independent variables and three measures of departmental DEI activities. This study demonstrates that designated leadership for DEI work increased in family medicine departments between 2020 and 2021.

The welfare impact of financial inclusion: does the source of financing matter? A GMM and channel analysis

PurposeThis study investigates how finance contributes to socioeconomic development through an inclusive financial system and the impact of financial inclusion programs pursued by non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, we leverage a rich, nationally representative household survey (ICPSR, 2014) from 17 Ghanaian MFIs (1,629 households), sponsored by the World Bank, to analyze microfinance impacts using a generalized method of moment (GMM) and channel analysis.FindingsOur findings reveal a statistically significant positive impact of donor-funded financial inclusion projects on targeted households’ welfare, regardless of implementing agency (donor, government or microfinance institution). The channel analysis further suggests that credit unions and savings and loan (S&L) institutions may be particularly effective conduits for delivering these welfare gains through financial inclusion programs. These findings hold valuable insights for funders seeking to maximize the welfare impact of such interventions: credit unions and S&Ls may be preferential channels for delivering financial inclusion programs aimed at improving household well-being.Research limitations/implicationsThe poverty-reducing impact of informal non-bank financial intermediaries like credit unions and susu groups highlights the need for policies that integrate these institutions into the formal financial system. Therefore, donor-funded initiatives should not rely solely on local government implementation. Since the focus of this study is on Ghana, we caution readers to exercise caution when generalizing the findings to other jurisdictions.Practical implicationsThe World Bank/IMF-backed financial sector reform in Ghana has many important implications for financial inclusion and welfare impacts which are rare in other jurisdictions. Our finding has policy implications for agencies that wish to translate financial inclusion into significant economic inclusion, especially in middle- and low-income countries (LICs) where the COVID-19 pandemic and the global impact of the recent war in Ukraine could exacerbate the exclusion gap.Originality/valueThe focus of this study is to understand if MFIs, funded by different sources, can contribute to inclusive growth and welfare. This research employs channel analysis, considering that donor and government programs are often channeled through community-based NBFIs and offer key contributions to the existing body of knowledge on financial inclusion and household welfare. This study extends the current literature by providing a deeper understanding of the role of each NBFI type in deepening financial inclusion and improving household welfare and allows policymakers, donors and governments to target inclusion efforts for maximum impact.

Efforts in Undergraduate Medical Education to Improve Socioeconomic Status Diversity.

Despite the importance of socioeconomic status (SES) diversity within the health care workforce, little progress has been made toward this elusive goal. Although centuries of structural disadvantage underlie this stagnation, medical schools are well positioned to increase enrollment and retention of students from low-SES backgrounds. In this research report, the authors investigate existing efforts in undergraduate medical education to improve SES diversity. The authors analyzed the Association of American Medical Colleges Medical School Admissions Requirements database, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Choose DO Explorer tool, and official medical school websites from December 2022 to May 2023 to examine undergraduate medical education initiatives across 156 allopathic and 56 osteopathic medical schools. They searched for SES diversity efforts in 4 domains: publication of student body demographics (including low-SES or first-generation status), need-based financial aid, low-SES support or affinity groups, and faculty or alumni mentorship programs for low-SES students. The authors found that 18 medical schools (8.5%) publicly report SES demographic information, 33 (15.6%) report having mentorship programs for low-SES students, 52 (24.5%) report having support or affinity groups for these students, and 154 (72.6%) report offering some level of need-based financial assistance. A greater proportion of MD and public medical schools (128 [82.1%] and 84 [80.0%], respectively) had any kind of SES initiative when compared with DO schools and private medical schools (40 [71.4%] and 84 [78.5%], respectively). Medical schools can support students from lower-SES backgrounds by publicly reporting classwide SES demographics, dedicating staff and faculty to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, measuring and reporting debt burden by stratified student demographics, and introducing innovative financing solutions.

Beyond Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Supporting Young Men of Color

In the second NASIG Conference Vision session, Amy Phillips examined the shortcomings of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts taken up by libraries. Despite all these shortcomings for DEI initiatives, she highlighted library initiatives that promote DEI in libraries. Speaker Anthony Davis Jr. detailed his involvement with the establishment of the Men’s Success Initiative Center (MSI) at California State University. He outlined the history of the center, how he became involved and the help he received from the library’s technical services—also known as Collections and Scholarly Communications (C&SC) department—to set up a library in the Men’s Success Initiative Center.

Digital Transformation in Community Radio: Extending the Reach of Social Inclusion Efforts at Mathare FM, Nairobi, Kenya

This study explores the potential of Mathare FM, a community radio station in Nairobi’s Mathare slum, to enhance social inclusion through digital transformation. The main objectives were to assess how digital platforms can expand Mathare FM’s role in promoting social inclusion and to explore the perceptions of listeners and staff regarding the integration of these tools. Purposive sampling method was employed to select participants who could provide relevant insights regarding the station's social inclusion impact for Mathare residents. Grounded in Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory, this research analyses the benefits of incorporating social media, mobile applications, and online streaming into the station’s operations. Data collected from the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS to perform descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. A descriptive research approach was used, combining questionnaires and interviews with a sample size of 400 members. Findings indicate that Mathare FM plays a significant role in promoting social inclusion, with 53% of respondents reporting high satisfaction with the station's community engagement efforts. Notably, 76% of respondents believe that digital platforms would facilitate greater engagement for marginalized groups, and 73% expressed a willingness to integrate these tools with traditional broadcasting. The study recommends developing a comprehensive digital strategy, enhancing social media engagement, and leveraging mobile applications to increase accessibility and interaction within the community.

Representation of intensivists’ race/ethnicity, sex, and age by artificial intelligence: a cross-sectional study of two text-to-image models

BackgroundIntegrating artificial intelligence (AI) into intensive care practices can enhance patient care by providing real-time predictions and aiding clinical decisions. However, biases in AI models can undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, particularly in visual representations of healthcare professionals. This work aims to examine the demographic representation of two AI text-to-image models, Midjourney and ChatGPT DALL-E 2, and assess their accuracy in depicting the demographic characteristics of intensivists.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, conducted from May to July 2024, used demographic data from the USA workforce report (2022) and intensive care trainees (2021) to compare real-world intensivist demographics with images generated by two AI models, Midjourney v6.0 and ChatGPT 4.0 DALL-E 2. A total of 1,400 images were generated across ICU subspecialties, with outcomes being the comparison of sex, race/ethnicity, and age representation in AI-generated images to the actual workforce demographics.ResultsThe AI models demonstrated noticeable biases when compared to the actual U.S. intensive care workforce data, notably overrepresenting White and young doctors. ChatGPT-DALL-E2 produced less female (17.3% vs 32.2%, p < 0.0001), more White (61% vs 55.1%, p = 0.002) and younger (53.3% vs 23.9%, p < 0.001) individuals. While Midjourney depicted more female (47.6% vs 32.2%, p < 0.001), more White (60.9% vs 55.1%, p = 0.003) and younger intensivist (49.3% vs 23.9%, p < 0.001). Substantial differences between the specialties within both models were observed. Finally when compared together, both models showed significant differences in the Portrayal of intensivists.ConclusionsSignificant biases in AI images of intensivists generated by ChatGPT DALL-E 2 and Midjourney reflect broader cultural issues, potentially perpetuating stereotypes of healthcare worker within the society. This study highlights the need for an approach that ensures fairness, accountability, transparency, and ethics in AI applications for healthcare.

Catalyzing Inclusive Excellence: Transformative Practices of Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology

The School of Kinesiology (KINE) at Auburn University (AU) has demonstrated exemplary commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, earning the 2024 American Kinesiology Association’s Inclusive Excellence Award. This article describes the strategic planning and actions taken by AU KINE over more than a decade to promote inclusive excellence by enhancing diversity and fostering inclusion. The article discusses how AU KINE overcame challenges, such as misconceptions about diversity initiatives, and how the unit continues to evolve, including developing an inclusive Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Throughout the process, AU KINE has aligned its diversity and inclusion mission and goals with the broader institution. The authors aim to demystify the process of creating a more diverse and inclusive kinesiology department and offer insights for other programs seeking to enhance their diversity and inclusion efforts. AU KINE’s success demonstrates the transformative power of strategic, sustained initiatives to promote inclusive excellence in kinesiology.

Affinity Bias: An Overlook Threat to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts

Affinity Bias: An Overlook Threat to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts

Facing Microaggressions Head-On: Effective Strategies for Addressing Subtle Bias in the Workplace

This article discusses strategies for constructively addressing microaggressions, which are subtle verbal, nonverbal, or environmental slights that communicate hostile or derogatory messages to marginalized groups in the workplace. Microaggressions undermine diversity and inclusion efforts and have negative consequences for targets' well-being and companies' productivity and legal liability. The article defines common types of microaggressions and explains why they are important to address. It then outlines factors targets should consider when deciding whether and how to respond, and provides research-backed strategies such as respectfully educating the aggressor, describing personal impact, inquiring about intent, addressing systemic issues, setting boundaries, or removing oneself from the situation. Examples are given of how different strategies could be applied in healthcare, technology, education, non-profit and government contexts. The conclusion emphasizes that addressing microaggressions requires both individual interpersonal skills and organizational support through policies and training.