Open AccessInfluence of Usual Source of Care on Differences by Race/Ethnicity in Receipt of Preventive Services
Author(s) -
CorbieSmith Giselle,
Flagg Elaine W.,
Doyle Joyce P.,
O'Brien Megan A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10733.x
Subject(s) - medicine , receipt , ethnic group , medical expenditure panel survey , race (biology) , national health interview survey , preventive healthcare , demography , health care , gerontology , confounding , family medicine , cancer screening , public health , environmental health , population , cancer , nursing , biology , botany , pathology , sociology , world wide web , computer science , anthropology , health insurance , economics , economic growth
OBJECTIVE: We examined the relation between race/ethnicity and receipt of preventive services and the effect of having a usual source of care (USOC) on receipt of preventive services in different racial and ethnic groups. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: We analyzed data from adults, aged 18 to 64 years in the Household Component of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative survey of health care use for the United States. MEASUREMENTS: The proportion of adults who received age‐appropriate preventive services. RESULTS: Compared to white respondents, Hispanics were less likely to receive breast exams and blood pressure and cholesterol screening than were white respondents, and blacks were more likely to report receiving a Pap smear. Despite being less likely to report having a USOC, black and Hispanic women were as likely or more likely to report receiving breast and cervical cancer screening, after controlling for having a USOC and other factors. Hispanics reported receiving blood pressure screening less often, and blacks reported receiving more cholesterol screening. For each race/ethnicity group, having a USOC was associated with receiving preventive services. However, controlling for USOC and other confounders attenuated, but did not eliminate, differences by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSION: The differences by race in receipt of preventive services suggest the need for different starting points for devising strategies to address racial differences in disease outcomes. While having a USOC will be important in narrowing the differences by race in receipt of preventive services, attending to other factors that contribute to disparities in health will also be essential.