Racial bias in patient selection of an obstetrician.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine racial bias in patient selection of an obstetrician.


METHODS
Obstetrical patients referred for genetic counseling at a community hospital were included. Self-reported patient race/ethnicity were compared with obstetrician's race/ethnicity.


RESULTS
The patient population (n = 1,519) was 27.8% white, 25% Hispanic, 22.5% black, 20.5% Asian, and 4.3% other. Physician race/ethnicity was 47.8% white, 28.8% Asian, 14.4% Hispanic, and 9% black. Patient race/ethnicity and physician race/ethnicity were correlated (contingency coefficient = 0.54, P < 0.001). White and Asian patients were more likely to select obstetricians of their own racial background (72.7% and 66.6%) than were Hispanic or black patients (36% and 24.6%, P < 0.001). Patients of all races were more likely to be under the care of a physician of their own race than of a different race.


CONCLUSIONS
In an urban community with a racially diverse population, there is a strong racial bias in patient selection of an obstetrician.
Schneider
Karen M
KM
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical School Houston, TX 77030, USA. karen.m.schneider@uth.tmc.edu
Strecker
Michelle N
MN
Promecene
Pamela A
PA
Monga
Manju
M
D001213:Asian; D044383:Black People; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011287:Prejudice; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American