Racial Differences in Satisfaction with Physicians

Abstract

This analysis examines the association between race and satisfaction with physicians among a sample of community-dwelling older adults. It is hypothesized that minority elderly will hold more negative attitudes toward physicians than will their White peers due to the difficulty in establishing rapport in the physician-patient relationship. Using data from the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (Duke), we find that African Americans believe that physicians do not display much compassion for, and respect toward, the elderly. However, African Americans report more positive attitudes about the prudence of physicians. These findings are discussed in the context of improving the physician-patient relationship.