The researchers said the additional detail was important because the best ways to reduce disparities will reflect the unique experiences and needs of minority groups.
Dr. Anne Beal, assistant vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, said the latest study results are consistent with previous research of how minority patients view the quality of their health care. She said perception is reality when it comes to patients being treated with respect.
"Because the findings are so consistent, it's not something where we can say it's just about the patients," Beal said. "They are reporting their experiences and the results should be taken seriously."
Beal said the Harvard study also showed that there are steps that health care providers can take to improve patients' perceptions, such as resolving language barriers. She said health care providers should incorporate translation services into their practice. Even physicians who work in small practices or on their own can make use of phone banks designed to improve doctor-patient communications.
Beal said doctors now pay for that service out of their own pocket, but that service should be reimbursable through government health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.
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