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.