Did you know that August is National Wellness month? It is a time for everyone to promote physical, mental and emotional wellness, and an essential component of promoting wellness is visiting a healthcare provider. Unfortunately, many communities cannot receive the care they need because they are not represented by healthcare providers in the healthcare field. Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that out of all healthcare workers, only 11.7% were Black, 6.5% were Asian, 18.5% were Hispanic or Latino, and 2.7% were other racial identities.1 This lack of representation can lead to serious consequences that negative affect the wellness of minoritized communities.
It is well documented historically and recently that racial, ethnic, and sexual minoritized individuals receive less treatment options and poorer quality of medical care.2-3 Discrimination, racism, and stigmatizing by healthcare providers can cause minoritized individuals to have their medical needs ignored, be treated condescendingly, be perceived as uncompliant, be blamed for their health concerns, and receive less empathetic care by healthcare providers who are not representative of their identities.2-3 This negative treatment by healthcare providers can result in stress and distrust in the healthcare system. When a minoritized individual does not trust their healthcare system and providers, they are less likely to seek out and receive the care they need for their health and wellness which can widen health disparities and worsen health outcomes.2-3
Although health disparities continue to be an issue for minority communities, diverse representation in healthcare can help reduce the disparities to accessible quality care and health outcomes. When healthcare providers are from diverse backgrounds, they tend to understand the culture, the background, and the historical context that affect a patient’s healthcare need. 4 Diverse healthcare providers can also provide more authentic care and interactions with patients who they share identities with. This could lead to a more comfortable environment where the patient and provider can establish a trusting connection and allow the patient to discuss all their wellness concerns to the provider.4-5 In turn, the provider can provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate care to members of a minoritized community.
Everyone deserves equitable access to quality healthcare providers that can address an individual’s wellness, taking into account their needs, culture, and identity. Creating a fairer healthcare environment with providers from diverse backgrounds can bridge health disparities by improving access to quality healthcare for minorities and underserved populations. Promoting wellness should not be optional. Researchers and providers should advocate for more diversity in healthcare so that everyone can experience a life full of wellness and health.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Healthcare occupations: Characteristics of the employed : Spotlight on statistics. https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2023/healthcare-occupations-in-2022/home.htm
- Ayhan, C. H., Bilgin, H., Uluman, O. T., Sukut, O., Yilmaz, S., & Buzlu, S. (2019). A systematic review of the discrimination against sexual and gender minority in Health Care Settings. International Journal of Health Services, 50(1), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731419885093
- Sim, W., Lim, W. H., Ng, C. H., Chin, Y. H., Yaow, C. Y., Cheong, C. W., Khoo, C. M., Samarasekera, D. D., Devi, M. K., & Chong, C. S. (2021). The perspectives of health professionals and patients on racism in Healthcare: A qualitative systematic review. PLOS ONE, 16(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255936
- Wilbur, K., Snyder, C., Essary, A. C., Reddy, S., Will, K. K., & Mary Saxon. (2020). Developing workforce diversity in the Health Professions: A Social Justice Perspective. Health Professions Education, 6(2), 222–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpe.2020.01.002
- Perrigino, M. B., & Jenkins, M. (2023). Unlocking the benefits of diversity among healthcare workforces: A holistic view. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 37(2), 177–193. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhom-06-2022-0163
By Julian Robles
Julian Robles is a research assistant in the Living F.R.E.E. Lab.
