Americans do not select their doctors based on race

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Health Disparities
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Existing research indicates racial biases within the American healthcare system.
• There's a lack of systematic studies on patient racial bias in selecting medical providers.
• Qualitative data suggests increased discrimination against marginalized groups, including Asians, during COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent to which Americans exhibit racial discrimination when choosing doctors.
• To systematically examine patient racial bias in medical treatment selection.
• To assess if racial bias in doctor selection has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A well-powered conjoint experiment was conducted.
• A national sample of 1,498 Americans participated.
• Participant preferences for doctors of varying racial backgrounds were analyzed.

Main Results:

• On average, respondents did not demonstrate racial discrimination against Asian doctors or doctors from other minoritized groups.
• No consistent evidence of differential treatment effects based on respondent demographics was found.
• Participant race did not significantly influence their preference for a doctor's race.

Conclusions:

• The study's findings suggest that Americans, in aggregate, do not racially discriminate when selecting doctors.
• Patient racial bias in healthcare provider selection may be less prevalent than previously assumed.
• This research has implications for understanding the boundaries and limitations of racial prejudice in the United States.