News and briefs: Quality of care and patient perception don’t line up

Patients' opinions of the care they receive can be quite different from the actual quality of the medical care. According to a study conducted by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center, 55% of women treated for early stage breast cancer in New York City hospitals said they received excellent care. However,  88% of the women received care considered in line with current treatment guidelines.

Researchers found that the patients' perception was altered by how easy it was to obtain treatment and how they were treated by medical personnel. Perceptions also varied by race; African American respondents were less likely to say they received excellent care and to say that they trusted their physician. The study found there was no difference in the quality of care administered based on race.

To read more from the survey, click here.