Abstract
Purpose: This article reports on the prevalence and correlates of microaggressive experiences in health care settings reported by American Indian (AI) adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This community-based participatory research project includes two AI reservation communities. Data were collected via in-person article-and-pencil survey interviews with 218 AI adults diagnosed with T2DM. Results: Greater than one third of the sample reported experiencing a microaggression in interactions with their health providers. Reports of microaggressions were correlated with self-reported history of heart attack, worse depressive symptoms, and prior-year hospitalization. Depressive symptom ratings seemed to account for some of the association between microaggressions and hospitalization (but not history of heart attack) in multivariate models. Conclusions: Microaggressive experiences undermine the ideals of patient-centered care and in this study were correlated with worse mental and physical health reports for AIs living with a chronic disease. Providers should be cognizant of these subtle, often unconscious forms of discrimination. (J Am Board Fam Med 2015;28:231-239.)
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 231-239 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cross-Cultural care
- Patient-Centered care
- Populations
- Underserved
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Family Practice