Preference for Same-Race Health Care Providers and Perceptions of Interpersonal Discrimination in Health Care

Abstract

This article examines black Americans' preference for black health care providers. Using data from a national survey, we assess how blacks' perceptions of discrimination are related to preference for same-race health care providers. Overall, the belief that discrimination is frequent in different-race doctorpatient dyads is associated with greater preference for a same-race provider. However, the belief that discrimination occurs regardless of a doctor's race reduces preference for a same-race provider. Finally, general perceptions of discrimination are distinct from concerns about personally being treated unfairly, and low personal concern about unfair treatment reduces preference for a same-race provider among those who believe that interpersonal discrimination occurs frequently. These results suggest a complex picture of how perceptions of discrimination influence preferred race of health care provider among blacks in the United States.