4 research outputs found

    Are Asians Harder to Please? A Mixed-Methods Study of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Expectations and Evaluation of Health Care Experiences

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    Background: While Asians in the United States report poorer health care experiences than non-Hispanic whites, the underlying reasons for such difference remain unclear. We examined how expectations and norms surrounding evaluation among non-Hispanic whites, Chinese and South Asians, as applied to a standardized health care experience, explain the differences in reported health care experiences. Methods: A purposeful sample of 10 non-Hispanic whites, 11 Chinese and 12 South Asian patients were recruited from a large multispecialty ambulatory care practice in California. Participants first read a vignette describing an office visit and then were asked to evaluate the vignette using an experience of care (EOC) survey that consisted of 17 items selected from the CAHPS® Clinician and Group Survey (CG-CAHPS). After completing the EOC survey independently, participants took part in a cognitive interview to describe their interpretations of each EOC survey item, reasons for their rating choices and suggested improvements needed to meet their expectations. We conducted comparative analyses across racial/ethnic groups for 1) the proportion of “top-box” (the best) responses for each EOC survey item, 2) evaluation norms characterized by the “top-box” responses paired with corresponding narratives regarding “improvement needed,” and 3) narratives surrounding expectations, experiences and evaluation norms for each aspect of care on the EOC survey. Results: Non-Hispanic whites were more likely to give the “top-box” ratings and concordantly indicate “no improvement needed” compared to South Asians (P \u3c 0.05) and Chinese (P \u3c 0.05) patients. Regardless of the rating given, both Chinese and South Asians were more likely than non-Hispanic whites to avoid the “top box” and indicate “improvement needed” (P \u3c 0.05), echoed by their narratives reporting higher expectations regarding timeliness of visits, communicating with providers, and getting tests and referrals, which were often unmet. A common belief expressed by both Asian groups was that “top-box” ratings are reserved for situations that dramatically exceeded their expectations, which might in part explain their lower likelihood to give “top-box” ratings than non-Hispanic whites for the same situation. Conclusion: Higher expectations among South Asian and Chinese patients may in part explain their poorer reported experiences. Further, the same care experience tends to be rated as poorer by Asians than non-Hispanic whites, which may also contribute to the lower ratings of health care experiences among Asian patients

    Acculturation and Patient-Reported Experience With Health Care: An In-Depth Examination Using CG-CAHPS Surveys, Electronic Health Records, and Patient Surveys

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    Background: Asians in the United States, particularly South Asians and Chinese (ie, groups of more recent immigration history), report poorer health care experiences than non-Hispanic whites. Few studies have examined the variation in patient-reported experience in relation to acculturation. This study aims to fill this gap using data from the CAHPS® Clinician and Group Survey (CG-CAHPS), linked electronic health records (EHR) and a patient acculturation survey to provide an in-depth understanding of the role of acculturation in evaluating health care experiences among South Asian and Chinese patients. Methods: A random sample of South Asian, Chinese and non-Hispanic white patients in a multispecialty ambulatory practice in California were selected for recruitment. A total of 69 Chinese, 40 South Asians and 22 non-Hispanic whites completed the CG-CAHPS survey evaluating their most recent visit. South Asian and Chinese patients also completed a 12-item validated acculturation survey that assesses language use, media use and social relationships. We conducted multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate the effect of acculturation on patients’ on CG-CAHPS reports regarding “see the provider within 15 minutes,” “provider spend enough time with you,” “provider explain in an way that was easy to understand” and “overall ratings of provider,” taking into account the actual wait time, type of visit, history with provider recorded in the EHR of the surveyed visit, and patient’s self-rated health status. Results: South Asians and Chinese reported poorer experience than non-Hispanic whites in multiple aspects of care assessed by the CG-CAPHS survey, given similar care provided (eg, actual wait time and time with provider). Acculturation appeared to be a significant predictor of their reported experience, with varying effects between South Asians and Chinese. With regard to doctor-patient communication and overall ratings of providers, acculturation has a positive effect on Chinese patients’ reported experiences but exerts no significant effects on South Asians. In terms of wait time and time spent with providers, however, acculturation has no significant effects on Chinese patients but exerts a slightly positive effect on South Asian patients. Conclusion: Acculturation affects South Asian and Chinese to varying extents across different aspects of care. Health systems may consider targeted strategies to expand culturally competent care for different Asian populations

    Towards Culturally Competent Care: Perspectives From Both Physicians and Patients

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    Background: Patient satisfaction has become an increasingly important health care quality indicator and been widely used to compare quality across health care organizations and providers. At a large multispecialty ambulatory care practice in California, a notable difference across regions has been recognized, with sites serving higher proportions of Asian patients tending to receive significantly lower satisfaction scores. The current study aims to identify the key drivers of this issue and provide recommendations for strategies to improve culturally competent care across health systems. Methods: We conducted 18 focus groups and 32 interviews with a total of 69 Chinese and 40 South Asian patients as well as 7 in-depth interviews with primary care physicians serving a significant proportion of Chinese and South Asian patients. All data were transcribed verbatim and coded with Dedoose, a multifunctional qualitative analysis software. First, data were coded by aspects of care. Then, an inductive thematic approach was used to identify themes around language barriers and racial/ethnic/cultural differences in relation to care. Further, patient-reported themes were triangulated with physicians’ accounts to draw recommendations for expanding culturally competent care. Results: Both patients and providers emphasized that an understanding of Asian patients’ beliefs about health and illness, which are fundamentally different from Western medicine, is an imperative to deliver culturally competent care. Knowledge of the social norms in interpersonal and family interactions also was considered important. For Chinese and South Asian patients in particular, more education is needed on the use of lab tests, imaging and antibiotics. Moreover, patients with lower English proficiency in both groups reported language as a barrier to satisfactory experience. Translation services were not favored by either patients or physicians because they are perceived to be time-consuming and of low quality. While patients reported frustration in scheduling with physicians who understand both their language and culture, such physicians reported being overwhelmed with workload. Physicians also voiced the need for more medical assistants and receptionists with the language capacity to support their care. Conclusion: Culturally competent care requires knowledge of cultural beliefs and practices in relation to health as well as language support from the care team and the health system
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