CASPer Exam Empathy and Equity 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CASPer prompt describes a student who is consistently late because of childcare responsibilities. An equitable institutional response would be to:
- Apply the same late policy to all students regardless of circumstances
- Exempt the student from attendance requirements permanently
- Explore flexible accommodations that address the barrier while maintaining standards (Correct answer)
- Transfer the student to a program with fewer attendance requirements
Correct answer: Explore flexible accommodations that address the barrier while maintaining standards
Equity-informed accommodation addresses structural barriers while maintaining academic integrity and standards.
Question 2: In a CASPer scenario, a colleague makes a racist comment. The most empathic and professional response is to:
- Laugh along to avoid social tension
- Ignore it and hope others did not hear
- Address the comment calmly and explain its harmful impact (Correct answer)
- Report to HR without speaking to the colleague first
Correct answer: Address the comment calmly and explain its harmful impact
Calmly naming the harm of discriminatory comments in the moment is more effective and immediate than reporting alone.
Question 3: Structural determinants of health, relevant to a CASPer equity scenario, include:
- Individual lifestyle choices only
- Genetics and family history only
- Income, housing, education, and systemic racism (Correct answer)
- Patient adherence to treatment plans
Correct answer: Income, housing, education, and systemic racism
Social determinants like income, housing, education, and systemic racism are among the most powerful drivers of health inequity.
Question 4: In CASPer, cultural humility differs from cultural competency in that cultural humility:
- Assumes mastery of specific cultural knowledge
- Is a one-time training outcome
- Is an ongoing practice of self-reflection and openness to learning from others (Correct answer)
- Requires memorizing cultural norms for each patient group
Correct answer: Is an ongoing practice of self-reflection and openness to learning from others
Cultural humility is a lifelong process of learning and self-critique, not a fixed set of knowledge.
Question 5: A CASPer scenario presents a patient who cannot afford prescribed medications. An empathic and equitable response is to:
- Tell the patient to follow the prescription and find a way to afford it
- Dismiss the concern as outside your professional role
- Explore pharmaceutical assistance programs, generic alternatives, and community resources (Correct answer)
- Document non-compliance in the patient's chart
Correct answer: Explore pharmaceutical assistance programs, generic alternatives, and community resources
Proactive resource navigation addresses cost barriers and demonstrates commitment to equitable access to care.
Question 6: In a CASPer video response about equity, which framing BEST demonstrates genuine understanding?
- 'Everyone deserves the same treatment, full stop.'
- 'Certain groups simply make choices that lead to worse outcomes.'
- 'Structural barriers create unequal starting points that require targeted responses to address.' (Correct answer)
- 'Fairness means not considering race or background in any professional decision.'
Correct answer: 'Structural barriers create unequal starting points that require targeted responses to address.'
Recognizing structural barriers as the root of inequity is more accurate and actionable than individual-focused or colorblind framing.
CASPer Exam Empathy and Equity 2
A CASPer prompt describes a student who is consistently late because of childcare responsibilities.
An equitable institutional response would be to: