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Doctors try to end racial and ethnic healthcare inequalities

Physician Practice Advisor, April 27, 2005

Many physicians recognize and address racial and ethnic healthcare inequalities in their practices, according to a recent survey released by the American Medical Association's (AMA) Institute of Ethics Commission to End Health Care Disparities.

Of the nearly 2,000 physicians who participated in the study, 55% believe that minority patients generally receive a lower quality of care than nonminority patients. However, 75% of physicians said they are in a good position to improve the quality of care minority patients receive, and many participate in quality improvement efforts, according to an AMA press release.

"There is a great deal of work to be done to end healthcare disparities, but this survey is encouraging. It shows that physicians of all races are eager to learn how they can do more to eliminate disparities in medical care," said AMA President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH in the release.

Other AMA survey findings indicate doctors are trying to address these disparities in their practices through the following:

• 54% have read a journal article to learn more about improving care for minority patients
• 32% have discussed strategies to address the specific healthcare needs of minority patients with their colleagues
• 19% have attended an educational seminar to improve the health of minority patients

"Past studies have indicated that physicians thought health disparities were unrelated to their own work, or were caused by social factors that physicians couldn't impact," said Gary Puckrein, PhD, executive director of the National Minority Health Month Foundation in the release. "This survey shows a significant evolution in this attitude."

See www.ama-assn.org/go/healthdisparities for more information on this survey.

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