Perceived ageism and racism in health care

In the last years discrimination has been noted within the context of health care, showing that immigrants are discriminated against when it comes to receiving medical treatment and access to health care services (e.g. Casagrande et. al., 2007). However, so far most studies have been carried out in the United States (e.g. La Veist et. al., 2000). Thus, this studies focuses on perceived race discrimination in health care in Germany, since the migrant minority is growing due to the demographic transition. For this study a survey on patient satisfaction was conducted within three randomly chosen international Christian communities. In this way perceived discrimination to due religion can be excluded. Furthermore no migrants with a Turkish background were taken into account, since numerous studies have shown that they are discriminated again. Therefore this study focuses on other migrant communities than Turkish ones. The questions covered topics on trust towards the physician, satisfaction with the physician and the hospital, perceived health status, health behavior and discrimation- observed one as well as perceived one. The results have shown that indeed migrants feel discriminated against, are less satisfied and observe discrimination more than natives.