Variation in participation in health care settings associated with race and ethnicity.
OBJECTIVE
To use the ecology model of health care to contrast participation of black, non-Hispanics (blacks); white, non-Hispanics (whites); and Hispanics of any race (Hispanics) in 5 health care settings and determine whether disparities between those individuals exist among places where they receive care.


METHODS
1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data were used to estimate the number of black, white, and Hispanic people per 1,000 receiving health care in each setting.


METHODS
Physicians' offices, outpatient clinics, hospital emergency departments, hospitals, and people's homes.


METHODS
Number of people per 1,000 per month who had at least one contact in a health care setting.


RESULTS
Fewer blacks and Hispanics than whites received care in physicians' offices (154 vs 155 vs 244 per 1,000 per month, respectively) and outpatient clinics (15 vs 12 vs 24 per 1,000 per month, respectively). There were no significant differences in proportions hospitalized or receiving care in emergency departments. Fewer Hispanics than blacks or whites received home health care services (7 vs 14 vs 14 per 1,000 per month, respectively). After controlling for 7 variables, blacks and Hispanics were less likely than whites to receive care in physicians' offices (odds ratio [OR], 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60 to 0.69 for blacks and OR, 0.79, 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.85 for Hispanics), outpatient clinics (OR, 0.73, 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.90 for blacks and OR, 0.71, 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.88 for Hispanics), and hospital emergency departments (OR, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.94 for blacks and OR, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.93 for Hispanics) in a typical month. The groups did not differ in the likelihood of receiving care in the hospital or at home.


CONCLUSIONS
Fewer blacks and Hispanics than whites received health care in physicians' offices, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments in contrast to hospitals and home care. Research and programs aimed at reducing disparities in receipt of care specifically in the outpatient setting may have an important role in the quest to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health.
Bliss
Erika B
EB
Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, 6726 35th Place South, Seattle, WA 98118, USA. ebbliss@hotmail.com
Meyers
David S
DS
Phillips
Robert L
RL
Fryer
George E
GE
Dovey
Susan M
SM
Green
Larry A
LA
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010824:Physicians' Offices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*