Assessing Cultural Perspectives on Healthcare Quality

This study explores cultural differences in perceptions of quality of care and examines whether existing surveys, such as the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) questionnaires, adequately capture conceptions of healthcare quality among members of racial/ethnic minority groups. Eight focus groups with African Americans, Asian Indians, Latinos, and whites were organized into two 45-minute segments. In one segment, participants rated the quality of care depicted in a video; in the other they discussed the concept of “healthcare quality.” We found that members of racial/ethnic minority groups are more likely than whites to identify cultural competency and providing a holistic approach to care as important to healthcare quality. Neither of these concepts is currently included in the core CAHPS® questionnaire. The CAHPS® and other quality surveys may not accurately capture concepts of healthcare quality that members of racial/ethnic minority groups deem most important.