Do health care ratings differ by race or ethnicity?
BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence that Asians and Pacific Islanders perceive their health care more negatively than whites and other racial and ethnic subgroups. This study of differences in health care experiences by race and ethnicity was the first to use nationally representative data.


METHODS
Data from the 1998 National Research Corporation Healthcare Market Guide survey were analyzed. A total of 120,855 respondents were included in the study. Four global satisfaction ratings (overall health plan satisfaction, medical care satisfaction, recommend plan to others, and intent to switch plans) and four composite measures (access to care, providers' delivery of care, customer service, and cost/benefits of care) were examined.


RESULTS
Nonwhite survey respondents--particularly those in the other/multiracial and Asian/Pacific Islander groups--rated their health plan coverage and medical care lower than whites.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study are consistent with those of other recent (and comparable) studies in which these racial and ethnic groups are represented. Most strikingly consistent, however, are the lower ratings of Asians/Pacific Islanders and the comparable (and higher) ratings (compared to whites) of African Americans. Why Asians/Pacific Islanders are considerably less satisfied with their medical care than all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States needs to be explored. Access to care and quality of care improvement efforts should be directed at all ethnic minority groups, particularly for limited English-speaking, other/multiracial, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander subgroups.
Haviland
Mark G
MG
Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA. mhaviland@som.llu.edu
Morales
Leo S
LS
Reise
Steven P
SP
Hays
Ron D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011639:Public Opinion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data