Kenyan patients' attitudes regarding doctor ethnicity and doctor-patient ethnic discordance.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored Kenyan patients' perspectives on the role of ethnicity in the doctor-patient relationship.


METHODS
221 participants completed questionnaires on ethnicity in doctor-patient relationships; eight focus groups were held with low- and middle-income urban and rural women.


RESULTS
About half of participants expressed no preference for doctor ethnicity. Participants rated demographic factors as less important than factors related to the doctor's qualifications, communication skills, and cost of service. Those who did indicate a preference were more likely to prefer Indian doctors for eye problems and Europeans for major surgery, cancer, and heart problems. With less severe medical issues participants were more likely to prefer a doctor who was ethnically concordant with them. Reasons for this centered around communication issues. In contrast, several focus group participants did not want to be treated by doctors from their own ethnic group because of concerns about confidentiality.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional research is needed on negative implications of patient-provider concordance.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical service providers must be aware of concerns about ethnic concordance. Alternatively medical centers that deal with sensitive medical information need to consider hiring staff who are not of the majority ethnic group in their region.
Miller
Ann Neville
AN
University of Central Florida, Nicholson School of Communication, Orlando, FL 32816-1344, USA.
Kinya
Jesica
J
Booker
Nancy
N
Kizito
Mary
M
wa Ngula
Kyalo
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult