Kon AA, Pretzlaff RK, Marcin JP. The association of race and ethnicity with rates of drug and alcohol testing among US trauma patients.
Health Policy 2004;
69:159-67. [PMID:
15212863 DOI:
10.1016/j.healthpol.2003.12.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2003] [Accepted: 12/05/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Racial and ethnic minority patients often receive differential medical care compared to Caucasians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of race and ethnicity with rates of alcohol and drug testing among adult US trauma patients.
METHODS
Data for 79,246 adults admitted to 58 institutions participating in the US National Trauma Data Bank were evaluated using multivariable, hierarchical, mixed-effects analyses to determine the odds of receiving alcohol and drug testing among different racial/ethnic groups. The primary outcome variable was whether an alcohol or drug test was performed. The secondary outcome variable was the results of those tests. Participants were stratified by injury severity using the Injury Severity Score. Additional case-mix variables included: gender, age, Glasgow Coma Scale, day and time of arrival, and payment source.
RESULTS
Black and Hispanic males in all injury severity groups were tested for alcohol more frequently than Caucasian males (odds ratio for Black men 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.16-1.47; and for Hispanic men 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.77, in the moderate injury group). Hispanic males in the moderate injury group were also tested for drugs more frequently then Caucasian males (odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.63).
CONCLUSION
Racial and ethnic minority trauma patients in the US are tested for alcohol and drugs at higher rates after adjusting for potential confounders. Because having a positive alcohol or drug test can adversely affect a patient's medical care, differential testing that is racially or ethnically biased may place minority patients at risk of receiving disparate care.
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