Judging health care priority in emergency situations: Patient facial appearance matters

Bagnis, Arianna; Caffo, Ernesto; Cipolli, Carlo; Palma, Alessandra De; Farina, Gabriele; Mattarozzi, Katia

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113180

Cited by 20 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…We rapidly make judgments about traits such as trustworthiness, dominance, competence, and a multitude of others every time we see a new face (Oosterhof & Todorov, 2008; Rule et al., 2013; Sutherland et al., 2013, 2018; Willis & Todorov, 2006; Zebrowitz & Montepare, 2008). An increasing number of studies are exposing the real-world consequences of first impressions, including election outcomes (Antonakis & Dalgas, 2009; Castelli et al., 2009; Todorov et al., 2005), hiring and promotion decisions (Graham et al., 2017; Rule & Ambady, 2008, 2011), criminal sentencing (Wilson & Rule, 2015), emergency health-care responses (Bagnis et al., 2020), and even adult interactions with children (Collova et al., 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

Mandatory First Impressions: Happy Expressions Increase Trustworthiness Ratings of Subsequent Neutral Images

2021

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First impressions of traits are formed rapidly and nonconsciously, suggesting an automatic process. We examined whether first impressions of trustworthiness are mandatory, another component of automaticity in face processing. In Experiment 1a, participants rated faces displaying subtle happy, subtle angry, and neutral expressions on trustworthiness. Happy faces were rated as more trustworthy than neutral faces; angry faces were rated as less trustworthy. In Experiment 1b, participants learned eight identities, half showing subtle happy and half showing subtle angry expressions. They then rated neutral images of these same identities (plus four novel neutral faces) on trustworthiness. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that identities previously shown with subtle expressions of happiness were rated as more trustworthy than novel identities. There was no effect of previously seen subtle angry expressions on ratings of trustworthiness. Mandatory first impressions based on subtle facial expressions were also reflected in two ratings designed to assess real-world outcomes. Participants indicated that they were more likely to vote for identities that had posed happy expressions and more likely to loan them money. These findings demonstrate that first impressions of trustworthiness based on previously seen subtle happy, but not angry, expressions are mandatory and are likely to have behavioral consequences.

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confidence: 99%

Mandatory First Impressions: Happy Expressions Increase Trustworthiness Ratings of Subsequent Neutral Images

2021

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“…Others believed however that disregarding patients’ appearance was impossible and therefore they emphasised the importance of awareness and continuous reflection concerning appearance-related first impression inferences. Previous research highlights the importance of awareness-raising among health care providers [ 17 , 19 , 20 ] for the promotion of equality and equivalence of care [ 14 , 16 , 17 ]. Experienced nurses are generally less biased by these inferences and react more to additional information about a patient than novice nurses [ 20 ], which can be related to the participants’ thoughts about professional experience as a resource for appearance-related awareness and support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The process of appearance-related first impression interaction thus influences the quality of care and the prerequisites for equality and equivalence of care [ 17 , 18 ]. Promotion of healthcare professionals’ awareness of appearance-related first impression inferences is therefore also needed [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nursing staff’s experience of appearance issues in various nursing situations

2021

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Background Health care professionals frequently interact with unknown patients in a process involving appearance-based judgements and priority-setting, all of which has an effect on health care equality. The healthcare provider–patient interaction is also highly relevant for the awareness and support of patients’ appearance concerns, with an associated possibility for improving patients’ satisfaction with their appearance and health. The aim was therefore to explore nursing staff’s experience of patients’ appearance issues in various nursing situations, with the purpose to facilitate awareness raising and knowledge development. Method A qualitative research approach with focus group interviews was chosen due to the exploratory aim of the study. Five semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 24 nursing staff in total (19 women and five men). The participants’ ages varied (20 to 45 years) as did their professional nursing experience. The interviews lasted approximately one hour, were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through thematic analysis. Results The thematic analysis resulted in the two themes Patient perspective and Professional nursing role, with associated subthemes. The findings showed the importance and impact of appearance issues in nursing situations and how these are linked to the health of the patients. Some groups of patients were identified as more vulnerable than others, which was associated with health care inequalities and health disparities. Value-based strategies along with knowledge, and skills for holistic person-centred care were identified as important resources for the development of appearance-related awareness and support in various nursing situations. Conclusion Strategies for improvement can be realised through the educational system for nursing staff, but mainly by using collective reflective learning forums in different workplaces. An empowerment approach is considered a useful framework for the implementation of holistic person-centred care, functioning as a resource for appearance-related awareness and support in various nursing situations. However, more research is needed on the complex and challenging phenomenon of appearance issues in nursing situations. Knowledge development related to successful person-centred strategies for appearance-related awareness and support is important, especially strategies with a salutogenic perspective.

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“…Different traits are important in different domains, and several studies showed that the predictive power of a particular facial trait depends on its relevance to the domain in question (Todorov et al, 2015). For example, inferences of competence from faces have been proved to be a good predictor of political elections results (Ballew & Todorov, 2007; Todorov, Mandisodza, Goren, & Hall, 2005), while inferences of trustworthiness have been demonstrated to influence court outcomes (Porter, ten Brinke, & Gustaw, 2010; Wilson & Rule, 2015) or healthcare decisions (Bagnis et al, 2020; Hadjistavropoulos, Ross, & Von Baeyer, 1990; Hall, Ruben, & Swatantra, 2020; Mattarozzi, Colonnello, De Gioia, & Todorov, 2017; Schäfer, Prkachin, Kaseweter, & Williams, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of the current massive recruitment of COVID‐19‐related nursing staff (Britt et al, 2020), it becomes crucial investigating whether facial appearance of applicants in healthcare professions may influence the probability to be hired. It has been shown that decisions made during stressful and emergency conditions are more likely to be influenced by perceptual biases, such as those induced by facial appearance (Bagnis et al, 2020; Dehon et al, 2017). Indeed, during situations characterized by time pressure and clinical uncertainty people are likely to fill the gap of lacking information with prior knowledge and stereotypes (Burgess et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facing up to bias in healthcare: The influence of familiarity appearance on hiring decisions

Bagnis

Cremonini

Pasi

et al. 2021

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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Associations between facial appearance and hiring decisions are well‐documented within job literature as a source of decision misjudgment with economic and human costs. Notwithstanding, this aspect is yet to be investigated in healthcare. We collected 90 pictures of new‐graduates nurses faces to be judged on different facial appearance‐based traits by an independent sample. Six months after graduation, the same new‐graduates were interviewed about their job situation. Binomial logistic regression was conducted to examine whether facial appearance ratings would predict the probability to be hired as nurse. Results showed that applicants with a face conveying a feeling of familiarity were more likely to be hired. Considering that people might be inclined to these biases during societal crises and the exceptional need to quickly recruit health professionals during COVID‐19 pandemic, our study recommends special attention to prevent the influence of facial appearance‐based evaluations not reflecting real skills to limit potentially adverse consequences.

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Judging health care priority in emergency situations: Patient facial appearance matters

Cited by 20 publications

References 61 publications

Mandatory First Impressions: Happy Expressions Increase Trustworthiness Ratings of Subsequent Neutral Images

Mandatory First Impressions: Happy Expressions Increase Trustworthiness Ratings of Subsequent Neutral Images

Nursing staff’s experience of appearance issues in various nursing situations

Facing up to bias in healthcare: The influence of familiarity appearance on hiring decisions

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