Survey reveals racism’s toll on health care

KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization, released its 2023 Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health. This extensive survey, comprising responses from over 6,000 adults, reveals the profound impacts of racism and discrimination on various facets of American life, particularly in health care.& KFF, which rebranded in 2023 to reduce confusion with Kaiser Permanente, serves as an independent source of information on national health issues. Their latest survey aims to document the prevalence and impact of racism and discrimination, providing a comprehensive look into these issues across different racial and ethnic groups.The survey highlights stark disparities in social and economic circumstances, interactions with law enforcement, and experiences of unfair treatment in daily life and health care settings. Key findings show that over half of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native adults, along with 40% of Asian adults, prepare for potential insults from health care providers or staff. Many individuals from these groups also report being treated unfairly or with disrespect during medical visits, experiencing negative assumptions, or being denied pain medication.The survey further links these discriminatory experiences to adverse health outcomes. Many respondents reported feeling anxious, lonely, and depressed, correlating with previous research that shows...