Perceived Discrimination in Health Care Settings: Analysis of In-Depth Interviews of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Health care discrimination is a barrier to patient-provider communication and effective self-management for patients with type 2 diabetes, a condition that disproportionately affects people of color. This article provides an analysis of in-depth interviews with patients with type 2 diabetes about their experiences of health care discrimination. Participants reported that their experiences of health care discrimination were rooted in their social identities. They often reported believing that discrimination led to assumptions and biases that negatively affected their health care experience. They also reported varying responses to perceived discrimination, ranging from hesitation to advocacy. This study highlights the need for health care systems to prioritize identifying and reducing specific health care provider behaviors that patients with diabetes perceive as discrimination.