A systematic review and thematic synthesis of healthcare professionals’ experiences of racism in the workplace and the support they receive

Despite the growing ethnic diversity among healthcare staff, research consistently highlights the high prevalence of racism experienced by ethnic minority healthcare professionals. This review aims to understand forms of racism encountered by healthcare professionals and evaluate the effectiveness of support mechanisms in addressing these challenges. The systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024512888). Peer-reviewed qualitative studies focused on ethnic minority healthcare professionals in clinical settings who reported experiencing racism were searched across databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Google Scholar). Studies from 2000 to 2024 were included, and results were thematically synthesized. Twenty-one studies were included in the review. Thematic synthesis revealed six key themes: (1) the spectrum of racism in healthcare, (2) systemic inequalities and lack of career opportunities, (3) experiences of exclusion and alienation, (4) endurance and silence, along with their consequences, (5) insufficient formal resources and the need for structural support, and (6) coping strategies and resilience among healthcare professionals. The findings underscore the prevalent nature of racism in healthcare settings and insufficient formal support available for ethnic minority professionals. There is an urgent need for healthcare organizations to implement anti-racism policies, improve training, and create inclusive environments.