title: Race/ethnicity and Americans' experiences with treatment decision making.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite widespread documentation of racial/ethnic disparities in medical care, population-wide variation in Americans' experiences with care are not well understood. We examined whether race/ethnicity is associated with information received from physicians regarding treatment recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from a nationally representative sample (N=1238). We assessed patients' personal experiences of receiving information about the rationale for treatment recommendations from their physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, respondents of minority race/ethnicity received less information from their doctors about the rationale for treatment recommendations. After adjustment for possible confounders, doctors talked less often with patients of 'other' race/ethnicity about reasons for treatment recommendations. Both Blacks' and Hispanics' doctors less often cited their own experiences, or scientific research as a reason for treatment recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Americans' experiences with information communicated by physicians regarding treatment rationale varies significantly on some dimensions by race/ethnicity, suggesting that differences in key elements of shared decision making are evident in the care of racial/ethnic minorities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should evaluate the extent to which their communication with patients varies by patient race/ethnicity, and make efforts to ensure that they share equally with all patients regarding the rationale for treatment recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA; Health Policy and Management Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA. Electronic address: mylin@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Meng-Yun
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA; VA BostonHealthcare System, Boston, USA. Electronic address: nkressin@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kressin
keywords: Disparities; Shared decision-making; Survey research