Perceptions of DifferentialTreatment from the viewpoints of attending physicians, residents, and hispanic parents in Arkansas

Research suggests that racial and ethnic minority patients do not receive the same quality of health care as nonminority patients. This disparity in health care management might be triggered by cultural and/ or language factors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe how cultural and language expectations affect the perceived interaction between physicians and Hispanic patients in a tertiary health care facility in Arkansas. Nine residents and eight attending physicians within the General Pediatric Clinic (GPC) of Arkansas Children's Hospital and 13 Hispanic parents whose children received services were interviewed. Hispanic parents had a positive perception of physicians and did not report negative experiences that affected the quality of the treatment received and satisfaction with it, although some cultural and language issues were noted. Physicians' expectations and language barriers affect their comfort level in interacting with Hispanic patients; nevertheless, these issues did not seem to impact the physicians' treatment of the patients.