Patients are more satisfied with care from doctors of same race

When patients have a choice, they are likely to choose a doctor of the same race or ethnic background and they are more likely to be satisfied with their care, says a study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (2002;43:296-306)

The idea that patients prefer a doctor of their own race is common but had never been tested, said lead author Dr Thomas LaVeist, associate professor of health policy and management at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

The study reviewed …