Perceived discrimination among racial and ethnic minority drug users and the association with health care utilization

Bibliographic Data

ID8091447
AuthorsCourtney McKnight (0000-0001-8685-5381, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, corresponding author), Martha Shumway (0000-0002-6753-1485, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, California), Carmen L Masson (0000-0002-1153-7132, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, California), Enrique R Pouget (0000-0002-5907-1909, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, New York), Ashly E Jordan (0000-0001-9426-2869, New York University, New York, New York), Don C Des Jarlais (0000-0002-0157-8168, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai), James L Sorensen (0000-0003-1713-9650, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, California), David C Perlman (0000-0001-5674-025X, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, New York)
Year2017
Volume16
Issue4
Pages404-419
Publication date2017-03-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1533-2640 • E-ISSN: 1533-2659
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15332640.2017.1292418
PMID28306386
OpenAlexW2597073658
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited43

People who use drugs (PWUDs) are at increased risk for several medical conditions, yet they delay seeking medical care and utilize emergency departments (EDs) as their primary source of care. Limited research regarding perceived discrimination and PWUDs' use of health care services exists. This study explores the association between interpersonal and institutional racial/ethnic and drug use discrimination in health care settings and health care utilization among respondents (N = 192) recruited from methadone maintenance treatment programs (36%), HIV primary care clinics (35%), and syringe exchange programs (29%) in New York City (n = 88) and San Francisco (n = 104). The Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Race, Ethnicity, and Medical Care questionnaire was utilized to assess perceived institutional racial/ethnic and drug use discrimination. Perceived institutional discrimination was examined across race/ethnicity and by regular use of ERs, having a regular doctor, and consistent health insurance. Perceived interpersonal discrimination was examined by race/ethnicity. Perceived interpersonal drug use discrimination was the most common type of discrimination experienced in health care settings. Perceptions of institutional discrimination related to race/ethnicity and drug use among non-Hispanic Whites did not significantly differ from those among non-Hispanic Blacks or Hispanics. A perception of less frequent institutional racial/ethnic and drug use discrimination in health care settings was associated with increased odds of having a regular doctor. Awareness of perceived interpersonal and institutional discrimination in certain populations and the effect on health care service utilization should inform future intervention development to help reduce discrimination and improve health care utilization among PWUDs

Ethnic group · Family medicine · Health care · Health equity · Interpersonal communication · Intervention (counseling · Psychiatry · Public health · Race (biology · Race and health · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology