BACKGROUND: Data suggest that differences in @entity1 preferences may account for racial disparities in the use of medical interventions. Racial disparities have also been noted in outcomes and the delivery of healthcare services in @entity102 . Whether treatment preferences in @entity102 differ by race is not known. METHODS: We elicited treatment preferences for aggressive therapy in @entity1 with @entity309 who identified themselves as being black or white. RESULTS: One hundred fifty consecutive eligible @entity1 were invited to participate. Of these, 136 subjects completed the interview. In unadjusted analysis, 51% of white @entity1 preferred aggressive therapy compared with 16% of blacks (P < 0.0001). Subjects who were married and reported having at least some college education had stronger preferences for aggressive therapy compared with their respective counterparts. After adjusting for covariates, race remained the strongest predictor of aggressive therapy examined in this study [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 11.2 (1.9-64.9)]. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, fewer black @entity1 preferred aggressive treatment compared with white @entity1 with similar disease severity. These results have important clinical implications because use of aggressive treatment improves both short- and long-term outcomes in @entity309 . Efforts to improve @entity1 education and physician communication should be made to ensure that all @entity1 have an accurate understanding of the benefits, as well as risks, associated with the best available treatment options.

Racial disparities in treatment preferences for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis'] @entity102 :: ('MESH:D002908', 'Disease') :: ['chronic disease']
@entity309 :: (MESH:D001172,Disease) :: ['rheumatoid arthritis']
