Racial/ethnic differences in poststroke rehabilitation utilization in the USA

Longstanding racial/ethnic disparities exist in the USA in the areas of healthcare access, healthcare utilization and health-related outcomes of chronic health conditions, such as stroke. Regarding stroke specifically, significant racial/ethnic disparities in stroke incidence, severity and outcomes have been reported. Despite these differences, little attention has been given to potential racial/ethnic differences in the utilization of rehabilitation services for patients after stroke. To date, only a few studies have been specifically designed to examine racial/ethnic differences in rehabilitation service utilization. A review of these studies and related studies suggests that racial/ethnic differences may be present in the utilization of poststroke rehabilitation services. Consequently, new studies are needed to delineate how race/ethnicity influences utilization of poststroke rehabilitation services and to determine how a reduction in this disparity gap could improve stroke-related outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities in the USA.