Medical care
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Controversy exists regarding whether and how physicians should address religion/spirituality (R/S) with patients. ⋯ Differences in physicians' religious and spiritual characteristics are associated with differing attitudes and behaviors regarding R/S in the clinical encounter. Discussions of the appropriateness of addressing R/S matters in the clinical encounter will need to grapple with these deeply rooted differences among physicians.
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The substantial racial and ethnic disparities in access to and use of health services are well documented. A number of studies highlight factors such as health insurance coverage and socioeconomic differences that explain some of the differences between groups, but much remains unexplained. We build on this previous research by incorporating additional factors such as attitudes about health care and neighborhood characteristics, as well as separately analyzing different Hispanic subgroups. ⋯ Researchers and policymakers may need to broaden the scope of factors they consider as barriers to access if the goal of eliminating disparities in health care is to be achieved.