National Survey of Physicians Part I: Doctors on Disparities in Medical Care
Selected findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation's forthcoming National Survey of Physicians reveal that most physicians are aware of racial disparities in medical treatment for specific conditions, but they don't believe it is a widespread problem. In sharp contrast, African American physicians disagree with their fellow physicians with nearly eight in ten (77%) believing race and ethnicity impact how people are treated at least somewhat often. Physicians see insurance status as a key determinate of treatment within the health care system, with more than seven in ten (72%) saying that the system very or somewhat often treats people unfairly based on their health insurance status. The survey of 2,608 physicians also includes findings on views of male and female physicians and views of Asian and Latino physicians on disparities based on a variety of other demographic characteristics.
