HEALTH DISPARITIES BLOG

October 31, 2008

links for 2008-10-31

• Racial And Ethnic Disparities Detected In Patient Experiences
  A study surveying patients in more than 1,500 physician practices has found racial and ethnic disparities in patient experiences, with minority patients having worse experiences than white patients. The findings suggest that while all doctors should be attentive to differences in patient experiences, Hispanic, Native American, and black patients are often visiting physician practices that are less patient-centered.
• Black Canadian’s with kidney transplants fare better than African Americans
  The investigators found that Black Canadians were significantly less likely than Caucasians to receive a kidney transplant, either from deceased or living donors. This situation mimics that seen in the United States. However, unlike African-Americans, Black Canadians who underwent a kidney transplant experienced no significant health differences compared with Caucasians after their procedure. Their transplanted kidneys survived just as long as kidneys transplanted into Caucasians, and Black Canadians actually survived longer following the surgery compared with Caucasians.