Multilevel Influences on Black Cancer Patient Experiences With Care: A Qualitative Analysis

Black patients with cancer report worse experiences with health care compared with White patients; however, little is known about what influences these ratings. The objective of this study is to explore the multilevel factors that influence global ratings of care for Black cancer survivors.

We conducted semistructured in-depth interviews with 18 Black cancer survivors. We assessed the global ratings of their personal doctor, specialist, health plan, prescription drug plan, and overall health care, and asked patients to elaborate on their rating. We analyzed the interviews with a deductive grounded theory approach using the socioecologic model to identify the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and environmental influences on Black cancer patient experiences with global ratings of care. We used an inductive constant comparison approach to identify additional themes that emerged. Two coauthors separately coded a set of transcripts and met to refine the codebook.

On average, participants reported the highest mean rating for their specialist (9.39/10) and the lowest mean rating for their personal doctor (7.33/10). Emerging themes that influenced patient ratings were perceptions about their interaction with medical providers, physician communication, the doctor's expertise, and aspects of the physical facilities. Global ratings of care measures were widely influenced by patient interactions with their providers that were empathetic, nondiscriminatory, and where the doctors addressed all concerns.

This grounded theory study identifies multiple aspects of health care that intervention researchers, health care administrators, and providers may target to improve Black cancer patient experiences with care.