Does ethnicity matter? Utilization, responses to medical problems, attitudes and satisfaction in a medically underserved community.

Sample surveys offer only surface knowledge of complex questions in healthcare. When properly designed, administered, analyzed, discussed, and acted on, however, they can serve as an educational/communications device. Strategic planning necessitates evaluation of external and internal factors that affect the organization. In the community served by the health organization that sponsored this research, key administrative personnel believed that ethnic attitudes and behavior could influence program utilization. The survey and subsequent discussion of its findings helped to corroborate this premise. As a result, administrative efforts were made in improving communications, hiring and training, and program structure to obtain higher level of community acceptance.