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David W. Baker, MD, MPH1, Kenzie A. Cameron, PhD2, Joe Feinglass, PhD2, Patricia V. Niemeck, BA2, Shawn Foster, BA3, Debbie Pierce, BA3, Jason Thompson, BA2, and Romana Hasnain-Wynia, PhD3. (1) The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St. Clair St., Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-695-0323, dwbaker@northwestern.edu, (2) The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St. Clair St., Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611, (3) Health Research and Educational Trust, One North Franklin, 30th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
BACKGROUND - This study examines patients’ attitudes about reporting their race and ethnicity and whether patients prefer to describe their background in their own words or by selecting a category from a list. METHODS – We recruited general medicine clinic patients following their visit; 81 of 169 (48%) agreed to participate. Participants rated how important they thought it was for health care providers to measure patients’ race and ethnicity. They also rated their own comfort level providing this information (range 1 = very uncomfortable to 10 = very comfortable). Participants were asked to describe their “race or ethnic background” in their own words, using up to four terms. They then answered two questions from the Census regarding Hispanic/Latino ethnicity and their “race” using a list of 14 options and “other.” RESULTS - To date, 81 patients have participated (mean age 45, 74% female). Approximately 80% somewhat or strongly agreed that hospitals and clinics should collect information on patients’ race or ethnic background to monitor treatment inequalities and guide staff training. However, when asked how comfortable they felt reporting their own race/ethnicity, 15% said they would be very uncomfortable (score = 1) and 35% rated their comfort 5 or less. Over half (58%) said they were somewhat or very concerned that this information could be used to discriminate against patients, and 20% said they would be less likely to go to a hospital or clinic that collected information on race/ethnicity. When asked to identify their race/ethnicity using their own terms, 90% used a single term or synonymous terms (48% white/Caucasian/specific European country; 33% Black/African-American; 5% Latino/a or Hispanic; and 4% Asian), and 10% described themselves using more than one racial/ethnic term. After selecting their race/ethnicity using the Census questions, 47% said they preferred to state their race/ethnicity using their own terms, 23% preferred the Census questions, and 30% had no preference. Compared to whites, Blacks felt less strongly that hospitals/clinics should collect patients’ race/ethnicity data (p = 0.07), were less comfortable reporting their own race/ethnicity (p = 0.03), and were somewhat or much less likely to go to a hospital or clinic that collected information on race/ethnicity (p=0.02) CONCLUSIONS –Although most patients think hospitals should collect information about race/ethnicity, a sizable minority feel uncomfortable giving this information. Most patients prefer to use their own terms to describe their race/ethnicity, although almost one fourth preferred to select from a list of choices.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Health Disparities,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.