Patient Preferences: Do They Contribute to Healthcare Disparities?

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of race on whether or not a patient would accept an invasive cardiac procedure when referred by a physician. A retrospective longitudinal review of medical records at a public health hospital in southeastern Louisiana was conducted to determine cardiovascular patient acceptance/ rejection differences. Patient charts were examined using specific indicators (type of pain, laboratory values, blood pressure, and radiographic tests) to determine which patients were eligible to be referred. The study concluded that race did not contribute to disparate acceptance and rejection rates among African Americans and Caucasians. A possible reason for this occurrence is that the site was a teaching hospital, which may indicate more physician oversight and better articulation of treatment options.