The Relationship between Nativity Status, Satisfaction with and Confidence in Health Care: Results from the Commonwealth Fund 2001 Survey on Disparities in Quality of Health Care

Disparities in quality health care are often examined by race and ethnicity, without regard to nativity status, even though a large proportion of minorities are immigrants. This study utilizes data from the Commonwealth Fund 2001 Survey on Disparities in Quality of Health Care to examine the association between nativity status and both satisfaction and confidence in health care. Foreign-born individuals were 35% more likely to report they were dissatisfied with the quality of health care they received and to lack confidence in obtaining health care when needed compared to US-born individuals. Foreign-born Asians were 2.81 times more likely (CI= 1.19, 6.64) to report being dissatisfied with their health care compared to US-born Asians. Foreign born Hispanics were 52% less likely (OR= 0.48, 95% CI= 0.28, 0.83) to lack confidence in obtaining care when needed compared to US-born Hispanics. We should begin tracking disparities by nativity status