Oral

This session presents research on racial, ethnic and cultural factors that impact the relationship of healthcare providers and patients, as well as the relationship of comorbidity and mental health care disparities. One of the presentations evaluates approaches to measuring self-reported discrimination in a multi-ethnic sample. The cultural sensitivity of practitioners in rural versus urban healthcare settings is evaluated in another of the presentations, and the findings suggest that cultural sensitivity may be one of the barriers to care in urban settings. Another presents a survey of practicing physicians to determine the characteristics of those who strive to build trust when treating patients of a different gender, race, ethnic, or cultural mix. In contrast to findings from prior studies, the results suggest that physicians do actively work to build trust even in racially discordant populations. Another presentation explores the role of patent-provider communication in medication compliance. Finally, it presents a study of the effects of comorbidity in recognizing the need for mental health care With the recent focus on healthcare reform, a discussion of these important issues is very timely. This session will help us understand how access to healthcare can be determined by racial, ethnic and cultural factors. It also helps us understand how the provider-patient communication can be improved, and how the presence of comorbidity illness affects identification of the need for mental health care.

Session Objectives: 1. Identify the impact of racial, ethnic and cultural factors on the relationship of healthcare providers and patients and of cultural sensitivity of providers in different settings. 2. Discuss how communication between providers and patients can effect treatment compliance and the impact of racial discordance can have an impact on this communication. 3. Discuss the role of comorbidity in the identification of mental health care needs.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)