This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Haviland, M. G. Articles by Pincus, H. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Haviland, M. G. Articles by Pincus, H. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Satisfaction With Health Care

Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, mhaviland{at}som.llu.edu

Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD

Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, California

Thomas H. Dial, PhD

National Education Association, Washington, DC

Harold Alan Pincus, MD

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Rand-University of Pittsburgh Health Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status on consumer health care satisfaction ratings. The authors analyzed national data from the 2001 National Research Corporation Healthcare Market Guide Survey (N = 99 102). Four global and 3 composite ratings were examined. In general, satisfaction ratings were high across all global and composite measures; however, Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics gave lower ratings than did whites, and African Americans gave a mix of higher and lower ratings (vs whites). Among the lowest ratings were those given by American Indians/Alaska Natives living in poverty. Race/ethnicity effects were independent of education and income. These findings are consistent with reports of continuing racial/ethnic disparities in both coverage and care. Programs to improve quality of care must specifically address these well-documented, severe, and persistent disparities.

Key Words: race • ethnicity • socioeconomic status • health care satisfaction

American Journal of Medical Quality, Vol. 20, No. 4, 195-203 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1062860605275754


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?