Patient race, perceptions of racism in healthcare settings, and physician trust

Hausmann LR, Kwoh CK, Hannon M, Ibrahim SA. Patient race, perceptions of racism in healthcare settings, and physician trust. Poster session presented at: Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting; 2011 May 4; Phoenix, AZ.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• RCD 06-287 – Identifying Mechanisms Linking Perceived Discrimination & Health
• IIR 04-137 – Joint Replacement Utilization Disparity: The Role of Communication

This study of African American and white patients seeking treatment for knee or hip osteoarthritis in Pittsburgh and Cleveland VA orthopedic clinics found that, compared to white patients, African American patients reported lower physician trust, more institutional racism, and more interpersonal racism in healthcare. In this sample, lower physician trust among African American versus white patients was explained by perceptions of institutional racism and interpersonal experiences of racism in healthcare settings, with interpersonal experiences being especially important. Efforts to foster trust in physicians among minority patients may need to address issues of racial discrimination in the healthcare system.