Racial Disparities in Doctor-Patient Communication: Examining Doctors' Encounters with Black and White Patients

Healthcare disparities persist in the USA, with Black patients often receiving lower-quality care. Effective doctor-patient communication is crucial for influencing satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and overall health outcomes. This study examined racial disparities in doctor-patient communication, focusing on encounters with Black and White patients recently diagnosed with myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS). Thirty-seven oncologists participated in simulated encounters with trained actors portraying either Black or White patients. Using an innovative approach combining the comparison of communication characteristics, thematic content, and linguistic analyses, we observed significant disparities in time allocation, linguistic complexity, and relation-building efforts. Encounters with Black patients were notably shorter, with doctors using fewer words per sentence, asking fewer questions, and employing less inclusive and optimistic language. Doctors also had less thorough discussions about transplant options and used fewer words communicating authenticity when talking with Black patients. The post-encounter surveys revealed that doctors were not aware of their shortcomings when interacting with Black patients. The findings provide important insights for the development of training programs aimed at improving healthcare outcomes for marginalized communities and reducing racial healthcare disparities.