Table 4.
Regression-Based Decomposition of Differences in Access to Medical Care between Whites and African Americans
| Report of Unmet Needs | Regular Doctor at Usual Source | Had a Doctor Visit Last Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Difference between Whites and African Americans | 1.14 | 8.41 | 2.34 |
| Difference due to coefficientsa | −0.65 | 4.45 | 0.57 |
| Difference due to meansb | 1.79 | 3.95 | 1.77 |
| Difference Due to Means for… | |||
| Personal Characteristics | 1.88 | 5.62 | 2.07 |
| Health insurance | 0.63 | 1.96 | 1.88 |
| Income | 0.91 | 1.68 | 1.07 |
| Values and preferences‡ | −0.02 | 0.85 | −0.10 |
| Other personal characteristics | 0.36 | 1.12 | −0.77 |
| Community Characteristics† | −0.09 | −1.66 | −0.31 |
| Emergency rooms and physician charity care | 0.13 | −0.44 | −0.88 |
| Other community characteristics | −0.21 | −1.23 | 0.58 |
Source: HSC Community Tracking Study 1996–1997 and 1998–1999 Household Surveys, nonelderly persons with either public or private insurance, excluding those in the military.
Note: Total difference is equal to the difference due to coefficients and the difference due to means.
The difference due to coefficients is based on the difference between the “counterfactual rate” based on African American coefficients and mean values for whites and the actual rate for whites.
The difference due to means is based on the difference between rate for African Americans and the counterfactual rate calculated using the African American coefficients and the mean values for whites.
Community characteristics were included in the linear models at the CTS site level.
Attitude questions for acceptance of reduced choice and increased risk along with behavior of smoking cigarettes among adults.