A Doctor Who Looks Like Me: Phenotypicality Matching and Its Effects on Perceptions of Physical Healthcare Encounters

Abstract

The present study extends previous investigations into ethnic matching by studying how racial phenotypicality impacts perceptions of healthcare interactions with same-race physicians. Participants read a dialogue between a patient and a pictured physician. The physician’s picture differed based on the participant’s indicated phenotypicality level and whether they were assigned to the phenotypicality matching or phenotypicality mismatching condition. After reading the dialogue, participants rated the doctor on various attributes and indicated how satisfied they would be with the depicted care and to what degree they would follow the doctor’s health advice. It was hypothesized that Black patients who have a doctor that matches their racial phenotypicality will have a more positive perception of their doctor and the care they provide and will be more receptive to their doctor’s treatment advice. Partially consistent with our predictions, highly phenotypical participants regardless of race reported that they would be significantly more satisfied with a phenotypicality-matched doctor’s care and rated them as more trustworthy than their lower phenotypicality counterparts. Additionally, Black participants reported that they trusted their physicians to a higher degree than White participants. Interestingly, they were also significantly less likely to follow the physician’s advice to take Aspirin. The results of this study point to a potential benefit of continued initiatives to increase the number of Black physicians in America. Further, this research provides insight into the role race and appearance play in how healthcare interactions are perceived.