Topic: Racial / Ethnic Minorities

Numerous studies in the U.S. have shown dramatic and persistent differences in health among racial and ethnic minorities (including Blacks/African-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians and Alaska Natives) across a multitude of important health indicators. For instance, scores of research have shown that when compared with the white population, racial and ethnic minorities continue to lag behind in access to care, quality of care, timeliness of care, and health outcomes. The lag in outcomes that disproportionately affects minority populations may be attributable to such healthcare-related risk factors as provider biases, poor provider-patient communication, and lower levels of health literacy. With minority groups projected to account for over half of the U.S. population by 2045 (based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau), addressing and eliminating healthcare disparities to improve minority health are key objectives.