Over the years, there has been minimal improvement in the life expectancy differences between white and black people living in the United States. Yet, according to an article featured in the STAT NEWS, Black people lived longer in US counties that had a higher number of black doctors.
About the Study
The goal of the study was to analyze the Black PCP workplace in the US at the county level and the relationship to mortality-related issues.
The study involved 1,618 US counties and found that Black Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) practiced in fewer than half of those counties.
Where a higher level of Black PCPs exists, the study found a lower mortality rate among Black individuals. The mortality rate disparities among white and Black people were also reduced.
The findings indicate the need for a diverse health workplace for greater survival-related results. However, the study was not clear on whether improved Black PCP representation is specifically related to better health outcomes among Black people.
An increased PCP supply is related to increases in an individual’s life expectancy. Conversely, they found decreases in cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory-caused mortality. Survival outcomes were assessed at three-time points for US counties. The outcomes were reviewed from January 1st through December 31st in the years 2009, 2014, and 2019.
The researchers noted that one or more Black PCPs practiced within a county during the aforementioned time points reporting:
2009 – Black PCPs practiced in 1,198 counties
2014 – Black PCPs practiced in 1,260 counties
2019 – Black PCPs practiced in 1,308 counties
Although primary care benefits have been well documented, the PCP totals remain at less than half of all 3,142 US counties. There were many counties with not even one Black PCP during each time point of the study.
It appears that building an ethically and racially-improved PCP workforce would be beneficial for improved population health.
The challenges, such as financial, linguistic, insurance, and discrimination-related barriers faced by minorities, are disproportionate in relation to others seeking similar health care services.
Conversely, previous studies indicate that PCPs render a disproportionately larger share of care to ethnic minority individuals as well as uninsured and low-income patients.
Other studies found that Black individuals as well as other ethnic and racial minorities have been underrepresented in most health professions that require years of advanced training.
Interestingly, it was suggested that the relationship between Black PCPs and extended life expectancy was higher in counties with high poverty levels as opposed to counties that had low to average poverty levels.
A Diverse Physician Workforce
Advantages to building an improved and diverse physician workforce are recommended as gaining access to much-needed specialties, improved care to ethnic and racial minorities, and generally attending to the needs of our diverse population.
Previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between a higher level of primary care services and desired health benefits.
Note that the reference to PCPs is defined as non-federally employed physicians in general practice in the US, Hawaii, and Alaska.
In conclusion, this study of US PCP workforces indicates that higher levels of Black physicians are associated with increased life expectancy and have relevance for the health of the population.
