Providing medical care to diverse populations: findings from a survey of Connecticut physicians.
OBJECTIVE
To identify current approaches and physicians' perceptions of challenges to providing medical care to racially, ethnically and culturally diverse patients in Connecticut.


METHODS
Three hundred twenty-one licensed and practicing physicians in Connecticut representing 17 specialty areas completed a brief self-administered mail survey in the spring of 2009.


RESULTS
Although physicians generally feel that they do a good job in treating patients from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, many do not employ best practices for communicating with patients with limited English proficiency. Many also do not tail or their discussions of health and health behavior to individual patients in a way that is culturally sensitive. Only 38% of all physicians had received formal training in managing patients from diverse backgrounds, and 34% had completed continuing medical education on this subject. Physicians reported that the greatest challenges to providing care to diverse patient groups involved structural issues such as medication costs and insurance issues.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study suggest that providing patients with better information on obtaining health insurance and how to utilize insurance coverage to access appropriate and effective medical care, as well as broad-based training and education in cultural awareness and sensitivity for both physicians and their office staffs, may be instrumental in decreasing health disparities among Connecticut residents.
Division of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health MC 3910, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3910, USA.
Robert H
RH
Aseltine
Matthew C
MC
Katz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003237:Connecticut; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role