Didier RuedinPre-print: The curious case of lower reported racial discrimination in healthcare #healthcare #discrimination #survey #evidence #quantitative #racism #selfreport #migration
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.27.26347279v1
The curious case of lower reported racial discrimination in healthcare
Objective: Explore self-reported racial discrimination in healthcare. Methods: Representative population sample, Switzerland, repeated cross-sectional data 2016 to 2024 (N=15,525). Results: Contrary to expectation, respondents from the migration-related population (foreign citizens, foreign born, migration background, first/second generation) report less racial discrimination than members of the majority population. Over time, we see an increase in the non migration-related population reporting (racial) discrimination in healthcare, while the share for the migration-related population is constant. The validity of the instrument is demonstrated with reported discrimination at work and in housing and the results are reliable across specifications and statistical controls. Conclusion: We speculate that in some cases, reported racial discrimination may express unmet expectations in healthcare more generally. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This research was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation project grant 200939, with additional support from the NCCR on the move (grant 51NF40_205605). ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Secondary analysis of anonymous data available from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/surveys/zids.html) as described and cited in the manuscript. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The data used are available upon reasonable request from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/surveys/zids.html).
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