Members Of Ethnic Minority Groups Research Articles

Are Comparisons of Consumer Satisfaction With Providers Biased by Nonresponse or Case-Mix Differences?

Are Comparisons of Consumer Satisfaction With Providers Biased by Nonresponse or Case-Mix Differences?

Review: culturally appropriate health education improves glycaemic control in members of ethnic minority groups with diabetes

Y Robles Dr Y Robles, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; roblesy@cf.ac.uk Does culturally appropriate health education improve outcomes in members of ethnic minority groups with type 2 diabetes mellitus? Studies selected...

Assimilation and discriminatory perceptions and experiences: The case of Hispanics in the United States

This paper examines the relationship between assimilation and discriminatory practices encountered by Hispanic-Americans. Theories of intergroup relations have typically assumed that as members of minority ethnic groups assimilate to a dominant group, they perceive and experience lower degrees of discrimination directed against them. In reviewing theories of majority–minority relations, we have called this the “assimilationist” model. This view has been opposed by some scholars who argue that as minority ethnics assimilate and become more knowledgeable of the larger society, they perceive and experience higher levels of discrimination against them and their group. We have termed this the “conflict model” of interethnic relations. Using data from the 2002 National Survey of Latinos, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center, we test opposing hypotheses based on these two models. Our findings, while exploratory, largely support the assimilationist model, with a few contradictory results. We discuss these findings and their implications for understanding the current situation of Hispanics in the United States.

The Impact of Title VII on General and Pediatric Dental Education and Training

The authors describe the impact of the Title VII, Section 747 Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (Title VII) grant program on the development, growth, and expansion of general and pediatric dentistry residency programs in the United States. They first briefly review the legislative history of the Title VII program as it pertains to dental education, followed by a historical overview of dental education in the United States, including a description of the differences between dental and medical education and the routes to professional practice. The authors then present an extensive assessment of the role of the Title VII grant program in building general and pediatric dental training capacity, diversifying the dental workforce, providing outreach and service to underserved and vulnerable populations, stimulating innovations in dental education, and engaging collaborative and interdisciplinary training with medicine. Finally, the authors call for broadening the scope of the Title VII program to allow for predoctoral training (dental student education) and faculty development in general and pediatric dentistry. In doing so, the Title VII program can more effectively address current and future challenges in dental education, dentist workforce, and disparities in oral health and access to care.This article is part of a theme issue of Academic Medicine on the Title VII health professions training programs.

Mental Health in the Context of Health Disparities

Mental Health in the Context of Health Disparities

Social mobility and social capital in contemporary Britain

This paper seeks to contribute to social capital research by linking measures of formal and informal forms of social capital to social mobility trajectories and assessing their impact on social trust. Drawing on data from a recent national survey--Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion (2003/2004)--we analyse formal civic engagement and informal social connections. The latter data are obtained using, for the first time in a study in Britain, Lin's (2001) 'Position Generator' approach as a means to identify the volume, range and position of individuals' informal social contacts. The pattern of contacts suggests that access to social ties is strongly conditioned by mobility trajectory. We also show that civic engagement in formal associations is especially high among second-generation members of the service class. It is also shown that both class trajectory and possession of two types of social capital have significant impacts on trust. Among the social groups disadvantaged in terms of bridging social ties are not only those in lower classes but also women and members of minority ethnic groups.

Gender Differences in Ethnocultural Empathy and Attitudes Toward Men and Women in Authority

The relationship between attitudes toward members of ethnic or cultural minority groups and men and women in authority or leadership positions was examined. The Ethnocultural Empathy Scale and Gender Authority Measure were completed by 317 participants. Results yielded a positive relationship among the attitudinal measures, indicating that individuals who express more empathy toward individuals from diverse ethnic or cultural backgrounds are likely to have positive perceptions of women in authority/leadership positions. Furthermore, gender differences in perceptions suggest that, relative to males, females are more likely to report higher levels of ethnic or cultural empathy and also have higher preference for women in leadership and authority positions.

Academic Internal Medicine in the United States

The American Society of Nephrology will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016. At the time of this commemoration, the United States will spend approximately 20% of its gross domestic product on health care, the Medicare program will face bankruptcy, and an estimated 67,000 people will have end-stage renal disease (1–3). Compared with other countries, the United States spends considerably more of its gross domestic product on health care (4). When total health spending is analyzed, public support (federal and state spending) in the United States is consistent with countries with government-run health systems (5). However, in contrast to those nations, private support is higher in this country, accounting for more than half of overall health spending. Despite this spending on health care, the number of uninsured Americans, which has increased from 40 to 47 million since 2000, is expected to swell to 56 million by 2013 (6). Millions more have gaps in their coverage, are underinsured, or face annual decisions about continuing coverage due to higher deductibles and copayments. Nearly 20% of the uninsured are children, and a disproportionate share of the uninsured are members of racial and ethnic minority groups (7). For decades, the United States has led the world in educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals, conducting groundbreaking research, and providing cutting-edge care to patients. For example, more than half the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine since 1970 have been U.S. citizens ( versus less than 10% of the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature) (8,9). Nonetheless, the Institute of Medicine in 1999 declared that 98,000 people die in the United States each year as a result of medical errors. The report raised awareness about healthcare quality and spawned a cottage industry for …

Life Satisfaction Among Ethnic Minorities: The Role of Discrimination and Group Identification

For most immigrants and ethnic minority groups, everyday life in the country of settlement raises question of adaptation and belonging. Aside from factors such as lower income, lower education and poorer health, being an ethnic minority member carries additional factors that can lower general life satisfaction. Using data from two studies the present paper shows that ethnic minority group members (Turkish-Dutch) have lower general life satisfaction than a comparable majority group (Dutch) because they are less satisfied with their life in the country of settlement. In addition, Study 2 showed that higher perceived structural discrimination was associated with lower life satisfaction in the country of settlement, but also with higher ethnic group identification that, in turn, made a positive contribution to general life satisfaction.

Use of Multiple Methods: An Examination of Constraints Effecting Ethnic Minority Visitor Use of National Parks and Management Implications

Understanding outdoor recreation participation and national park visitation by members of ethnic minority groups has been a particular focus of outdoor recreation researchers for the past twenty years. Attracting ethnic minorities, and understanding their recreation needs and interests, demands a multi-faceted approach and sustained commitment not only by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) but by other resource management agencies as well.

Reducing Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Health Care: Opportunities in National Health Reform

Policy often focuses on reducing health care disparities through interventions at the patient and provider level. While unquestionably important, system-wide reforms to reduce uninsurance, improve geographic availability of services, increase workforce diversity, and promote clinical best practices are essential for progress in reducing disparities.

Genetics of Asthma: Potential Implications for Reducing Asthma Disparities

Although genetic factors may partly explain the differences in asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality among ethnic groups in the United States, few studies of the genetics of asthma have included members of ethnic minority groups. Only one genome-wide linkage analysis of asthma and/or asthma-related phenotypes (conducted by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma) has included any members of ethnic minority populations. The interpretation of the findings of genetic association studies of asthma in ethnic minority groups is complicated by reduced statistical power due to small sample sizes; the failure to correct for multiple comparisons; a lack of homogeneity of the populations studied with regard to area of residence, ancestral background, and/or country of origin; a lack of measurement of relevant environmental exposures; and (for case-control studies of genetic association) a lack of detection and control of potential population stratification. Genetic studies may improve our understanding of asthma and lead to new methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat this disease. Limited study of asthma genetics in ethnic minority populations is unacceptable, as it may prevent these groups from benefiting from future developments in asthma management and thus widen existing disparities in asthma care. Future genetic association studies of asthma among ethnic minorities in the United States should include large samples of populations that have been adequately defined with regard to area of residence, self-designated ancestry, and country of origin. These studies should also include an adequate assessment of potentially relevant environmental exposures and (for case-control association studies) population stratification.

Mental Health Service Use Among Hurricane Katrina Survivors in the Eight Months After the Disaster

This study examined use of mental health services among adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina in order to improve understanding of the impact of disasters on persons with mental disorders.A geographically representative telephone survey was conducted between January 19 and March 31, 2006, with 1,043 displaced and nondisplaced English-speaking Katrina survivors aged 18 and older. Survivors who reported serious and mild-moderate mood and anxiety disorders in the past 30 days and those with no such disorders were identified by using the K6 scale of nonspecific psychological distress. Use of services, system sectors, and treatments and reasons for not seeking treatment or dropping out were recorded. Correlates of using services and dropping out were examined.An estimated 31% of respondents (N=319) had evidence of a mood or anxiety disorder at the time of the interview. Among these only 32% had used any mental health services since the disaster, including 46% of those with serious disorders. Of those who used services, 60% had stopped using them. The general medical sector and pharmacotherapy were most commonly used, although the mental health specialty sector and psychotherapy played important roles, especially for respondents with serious disorders. Many treatments were of low intensity and frequency. Undertreatment was greatest among respondents who were younger, older, never married, members of racial or ethnic minority groups, uninsured, and of moderate means. Structural, financial, and attitudinal barriers were frequent reasons for not obtaining care.Few Katrina survivors with mental disorders received adequate care; future disaster responses will require timely provision of services to address the barriers faced by survivors.

Identity‐Based Discussion Groups: A Means of Providing Outreach and Support for Asian Pacific American Students

This article explores the psychological issues experienced by Asian Pacific American students, illustrating the need to provide culturally relevant interventions. Cultural identity issues experienced by many of these students are salient challenges that can lead to psychological distress. Because some students avoid traditional counseling, discussion groups may be a viable method of outreach. Group formats from 2 universities are presented to illustrate the relevancy and efficacy of the approach.

Stereotypen van etnische minderheden, verbondenheid met de eigen groep, assimilatie en integratie

Stereotypes of ethnic minorities, attachment to their own group, assimilation and integration Stereotypes of ethnic minorities, attachment to their own group, assimilation and integration A. Vrugt, A. Salin & S. Room, Gedrag & Organisatie, volume 20, September 2007, nr. 3, pp. 260-271 The present research investigated which stereotypical characteristics Dutch ethnic minority group members, based on their cultural background, attributed to their own social group and to the ethnic Dutch majority. Further it was studied to what extent the assignment of these stereotypical characteristics was related to the attachment to their own group, and whether the attachment to their own group was related to their view on integration and assimilation. The results showed that minority group participants found positive stereotypical features that are derived from collectivistic values, more characteristic of their own group than of the Dutch majority. By contrast, negative stereotypical features, being deviant from collectivistic values, were considered as more characteristic of the majority group. Furthermore, it was found that the minority group participants felt more attached to their own group than did the majority group participants. This attachment was related to the negative stereotypical features that minority group participants regarded as characteristic of the majority. Moreover, this attachment mediated the relationship between negative stereotypical features attributed to the majority and a negative view on assimilation. The implications of these results are discussed.

The Socio-cultural Integration of Ethnic Minorities in the Netherlands: Identifying Neighbourhood Effects on Multiple Integration Outcomes

This paper addresses the relationship between the ethnic concentration of a neighbourhood and multiple integration outcomes of ethnic minority groups in Dutch society. The data used are drawn from two large-scale surveys: the Survey Social Position and Use of Provisions by Ethnic Minorities (2002 and 2003), which provides information on the four largest immigrant groups (Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese and Antilleans) as well as five important refugee groups in the Netherlands, and the Attitudes towards Minorities Survey (2002), which contains extensive information on the indigenous majority. The paper examines whether ethnic concentration in neighbourhoods influences indicators of socio-cultural integration, i.e. inter-ethnic contacts, language proficiency and mutual stereotypical attitudes. The analyses show that social contacts between majority and minority groups are less frequent in ethnically concentrated neighbourhoods. However, a degree of mixing has a positive influence on the actual orientation of the indigenous Dutch towards ethnic minorities. The analyses also reveal that in neighbourhoods experiencing a sudden influx of non-Western citizens, inter-ethnic attitudes tend to be more negative. Social contacts play a mediating role in this relationship. These contacts are also important for a good command of the Dutch language among members of ethnic minority groups.

Volunteer bias in medical education research: an empirical study of over three decades of longitudinal data

The issue of whether medical education research outcomes can be biased by students' refusal to allow their data to be used in outcomes research should be empirically addressed to assure the validity of research findings. Given that institutions are expected to document the outcomes of their educational programmes, evaluations of clinical performance subsequent to medical school are crucial, but are often incomplete when graduates decline to permit data collection. This study aimed to examine the demographic and performance differences between research volunteers and others. A total of 7415 doctors graduated from Jefferson Medical College between 1970 and 2004; 75% (n = 5575) agreed to participate in medical education research by granting written permission for the collection of data from their postgraduate training directors on their behalf (research volunteers); 20% (n = 1489) refused to grant such permission (non-volunteers), and 5% (n = 351) did not return the permission form (non-respondents). This prospective longitudinal study compared research volunteers, non-volunteers and non-respondents on gender, ethnicity, performance measures prior to, during and after medical school, scores on medical licensing examinations, and board certification status. Doctors who granted permission (volunteers) generally performed better during and after medical school. In addition, they scored higher on medical licensing examinations and had a higher certification rate. Women and members of ethnic minority groups were less likely to grant permission. The study raises questions about the validity of research findings as a result of volunteerism in medical education research. The implications for guidelines regarding the protection of human subjects in medical education research, and for educational outcomes, are discussed.

A multicultural assessment supervision model to guide research and practice.

Multicultural assessment supervision is supervision of an assessment process in which the person assessed and the assessor are from different cultural backgrounds, the supervisor and the trainee are from different cultural backgrounds, or an instrument used in the assessment was developed with a cultural group different from that of the person assessed. A multicultural assessment competency model is presented to guide research and practice in multicultural assessment supervision. The model describes multicultural assessment competence areas, supervisor characteristics, supervision process variables, and supervision task areas important in the development of cultural competence in assessment practice. A significant demographic shift has occurred in the United States over the past 25 years. Individuals from nonwestern cultural groups compose an increasing proportion of the population. In many urban centers, ethnic minority groups together constitute the majority population, and these growth trends will likely continue or even accelerate (Schmitt, 2001; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006). Psychologists' caseloads are changing accordingly as they provide services to increasing numbers of individuals from multi- cultural groups. These larger societal changes are also reflected in the ranks of professional psychology. The most recent available data on the ethnic composition of psychology graduate students in the United States is for 2003-2004. These data indicated 27.3% of graduate students were members of ethnic minority groups (Norcross, Kohout, & Wicherski, 2005). These trends have impor- tant implications for clinical supervision, including assessment supervision, which will become increasingly multicultural. Unlike many other occupational groups, professionals are granted significant autonomy in their work roles. One responsibil- ity accompanying this autonomy is self-regulation through main- tenance of professional standards. Training and supervision are central to self-regulation in psychology through their role in main- taining professional standards (Holloway & Neufeldt, 1995). As- sessment is one of professional psychology's historical roots and contemporary distinguishing features. Given demographic trends, supervision of multicultural psychological assessment will become increasingly important in professional self-regulation. At present, no models exist to guide multicultural assessment supervision research and practice.

Decentralization, Democratic Participation and Authoritarian Dogma: Local Opposition to Minority Integration in France, Italy and the United States

This contribution asks: “Can there be too much democracy in integration politics?” It contends that democratic principles can be undermined through their implementation in local democratic systems. Orthodox beliefs concerning particular ideologies of democracy can undermine ethnic integration when they are utilized in local systems to maintain the status quo and block integration reforms. In order to examine this issue in detail, this paper studies ethnic politics under three models of democracy found in the United States, France, and Italy. It analyzes democratic principles and systems in the three states and their impact on the local arena, where members of ethnic minority and majority groups interact on a daily basis.

The Impact of Internal Labor Markets on Newspaper Industry Personnel Practices

Media industries in the United States have consolidated significantly in the second half of the last century. One consequence of the consolidation is a restructuring of the way the industries construct and access their labor markets. As the media group integrates or even coordinates the hiring of personnel, the Internal Labor Market can be expanded to cover all or major parts of the media company. Creation of what is termed here an Extended Internal Labor Market has the potential to alter personnel practices in the group. This article tested this expectation in one specific area, the hiring of and investment in journalists, for one type of media, the daily newspaper industry. One indicant of quality hiring is the location and employment of journalists who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups. It was predicted in this article that daily newspapers that are part of an optimally configured Extended Internal Labor Market would be more likely to hire minority journalists than other newspapers. These newspapers also were expected to be more likely to value professional development of their journalists, and to provide encouragement for their journalists to engage in both internal and external training activities. The data are generally consistent with the hypotheses. The size of the company plays an important role in understanding the relationships.