Survey: Many people of color worry their appearance will impact quality of health care

Many people from communities of color brace themselves for insults and judgments before medical appointments, according to a new survey of patients that reaffirms the prevalence of racial discrimination in the U.S. health system (Source: “Many People of Color Worry Good Health Care Is Tied to Their Appearance,” Kaiser Health News, Dec. 5).
 
The Kaiser Family Foundation survey of nearly 6,300 patients who have had care in the past three years found that about 55% of Black adults feel they have to be very careful about their appearance to be treated fairly by doctors and other health providers. Nearly half of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Hispanic patients feel similarly, as do about 4 in 10 Asian patients.
 
By comparison, 29% of white people surveyed said they worried about their appearance before appointments.
 
When people don’t feel respected or welcomed by their health care providers, they may be discouraged to reach out for medical help or may switch providers more often, according to Samantha Artiga, director of the KFF's racial equity and health policy program. Members of minority populations are found to be “experiencing worse health as a result of experiencing unfair treatment in the health care system,” she said.