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Patient preferences: do they contribute to healthcare disparities?
James Gerard Caillier1, Sandra C Brown, Sharon Parsons
1Bowie State University, MLK Room 323, 14000 Jericho Park Rd, Bowie, MD 20715, USA. jcaillier@bowiestate.edu
Insights
Race did not impact acceptance of invasive cardiac procedures for African American and Caucasian patients. This study controlled for various factors, suggesting potential influences in teaching hospital settings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Health Disparities
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Understanding patient decision-making regarding invasive cardiac procedures is crucial.
- Previous research suggests potential racial disparities in healthcare access and treatment acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of race on patient acceptance or rejection of invasive cardiac procedures.
- To analyze differences in procedural acceptance rates between racial groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective longitudinal review of medical records at a public health hospital.
- Inclusion criteria: physician referral for invasive cardiac procedure, documented eligibility indicators.
- Analysis controlled for disease severity, age, income, sex, race, social support, diagnosis, and family history.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in procedure acceptance or rejection rates were observed between minority and Caucasian patients.
- Patient preferences for invasive cardiac procedures were consistent across racial groups when controlling for key variables.
Conclusions:
- Race was not found to be a contributing factor to disparate acceptance/rejection rates for invasive cardiac procedures.
- The teaching hospital environment may promote greater physician oversight and clearer communication of treatment options.
- Further research is recommended to explore physician and institutional bias in non-teaching hospital settings.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of race on whether or not a patient would accept an invasive cardiac procedure when referred by a physician.
Methods:
A retrospective longitudinal review of medical records at a public health hospital in southeastern Louisiana was conducted to determine cardiovascular patient acceptance/ rejection differences. Patient charts were examined using specific indicators (type of pain, laboratory values, blood pressure, and radiographic tests) to determine which patients were eligible to be referred. In order to be selected, each medical record had to have documentation of a physician referral for an invasive cardiac procedure. Medical charts without this referral were deemed ineligible for the cohort.
Results:
Patient preferences were similar for both minorities and Caucasians, despite the fact that the study controlled for disease severity, age, income, sex, race, social support, diagnosis, and family history.
Conclusion:
Race did not contribute to disparate acceptance and rejection rates among African Americans and Caucasians. A possible reason for this occurrence is that the site was a teaching hospital, which may indicate more physician oversight and better articulation of treatment options. Future studies should delve deeper into physician and institutional bias in non-teaching facilities during patient/physician interactions.
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