The Impact of Healthcare Disparities on the Health Outcomes of Black Communities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55632/pwvas.v98i1.1228Abstract
This study examined how perceptions of being taken seriously by health care providers, experiences of discrimination, and cost-related delays in care relate to health care utilization among Black individuals. Using a quantitative correlational design, participants completed survey measures assessing perceived provider regard (“taken seriously”), frequency of medical visits, discrimination in health care settings, and whether they delayed or avoided care due to cost. Correlational analyses showed several significant associations. Individuals who felt taken seriously were less likely to visit the doctor frequently, r(31) = –.55, p < .01. Delaying or avoiding care due to cost was positively associated with frequency of visits, r(31) = .42, p < .05, suggesting that those who face cost barriers may eventually require more frequent medical attention. Experiences of discrimination were negatively associated with delaying care, r(31) = –.39, p < .05, indicating that those reporting discrimination were less likely to delay visits. A multiple regression predicting doctor visits from perceived seriousness and cost-related delays produced a significant model, F(2, 28) = 9.49, p < .01, R² = .40, showing that together these factors explain 40% of the variability in visit frequency. These results highlight the complex ways cost barriers, provider respect, and discriminatory experiences shape Black individuals’ engagement with the health care system. No external funding supported this research.
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