Stereotype Threat Effect on CPR Performance: A Randomized Controlled Mannequin Study

Abstract Background: Stereotype threat (ST) can lead to decreased performance when individuals face the possibility of confirming negative stereotypes associated with their group. During the Covid-19 pandemic, non-Intensive Care Unit physicians (non-ICUp) were assigned to work in ICUs. However, social media emphasized the inadequacy of knowledge and skills among these physicians. Given the negative judgments, the study aimed to evaluate the CPR performances of these physicians and investigate the effect of ST. Method: A total of 63 non-ICUp and 53 ICUp physicians working in Covid-19 ICUs were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. In the experimental group, ST was manipulated by presenting the study's aim as measuring the difference in CPR performances between ICUp and non-ICUp physicians. The control group received no information. Participants were videotaped while performing a standard CPR scenario and evaluated by independent instructors and mannequin scores. Results: Overall CPR scores were higher among ICUp. Non-ICUp physicians performed better in the ST condition regarding effective chest compression (p = .02) and correct compression rates per minute (p = .02) compared to the control condition. However, ICUp had lower scores for correctly placing chest compressions in the ST condition (p = .03). Conclusion: The higher CPR performance among ICUp was expected. However, the hypothesis suggesting lower performance for non-ICUp under ST conditions was not supported. Inconsistent results regarding the ST effect could be influenced by moderating factors such as task difficulty, knowledge about the existing stereotype, and motivation to perform well. The interaction between the physicians' specialty and situational factors highlights the importance of creating realistic training environments that simulate high-pressure situations, ultimately contributing to the development of competent and confident healthcare professionals. Future research should further explore the impact of ST-based training on interactions and performance among different healthcare professionals.