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Background <p>Continuity of care is crucial for improving health outcomes, yet its relationship with patient-physician ethnic concordance remains understudied, particularly in ethnic minority populations. This study provides the first evidence of this relationship in Tibet, a region with unique ethnic dynamics.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing 3,883,031 patient visits from 2021 to 2023 across three major Tibetan cities. Using de-identified reimbursement claims data, we categorized patient-physician interactions into four groups based on patient-physican ethnic concordance. The Bice-Boxerman Continuity of Care (COC) index was used to quantify care continuity.</p> Results <p>Ethnic concordance between patients and physicians positively influenced care continuity (coefficient = 0.0114; 95% CI 0.0100 to 0.0128). Han patient-physician pairs demonstrated the highest continuity (COC = 0.7765). Tibetan patients experienced lower continuity overall, particularly when treated by Han physicians (COC = 0.7192). However, Tibetan patient-physician pairs showed improved continuity compared to Tibetan-Han pairs, highlighting the positive effect of ethnic concordance.</p> Conclusions <p>This first study in Tibet reveals that while patient-physician ethnic concordance is associated with improved care continuity, significant disparities persist for Tibetan patients. These findings emphasize the need for culturally competent healthcare policies, support for traditional medicine, improved healthcare access, and targeted interventions for minority groups. The results have potential implications for healthcare delivery in ethnically diverse regions worldwide, as they may help bridge gaps in care continuity, enhance health equity for ethnic minorities in demographically diverse nation.</p>

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Patient-Physician Ethnic Concordance and its Impact on Care Continuity: First Evidence from Tibet

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月13日

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  • Weizhuo Chen,
  • Changli Jia,
  • Yuting Zhang,
  • Qiao Yang,
  • Sisi Zhong,
  • Junyi Chen,
  • Boyang Li,
  • Ting Ye

摘要

Background

Continuity of care is crucial for improving health outcomes, yet its relationship with patient-physician ethnic concordance remains understudied, particularly in ethnic minority populations. This study provides the first evidence of this relationship in Tibet, a region with unique ethnic dynamics.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing 3,883,031 patient visits from 2021 to 2023 across three major Tibetan cities. Using de-identified reimbursement claims data, we categorized patient-physician interactions into four groups based on patient-physican ethnic concordance. The Bice-Boxerman Continuity of Care (COC) index was used to quantify care continuity.

Results

Ethnic concordance between patients and physicians positively influenced care continuity (coefficient = 0.0114; 95% CI 0.0100 to 0.0128). Han patient-physician pairs demonstrated the highest continuity (COC = 0.7765). Tibetan patients experienced lower continuity overall, particularly when treated by Han physicians (COC = 0.7192). However, Tibetan patient-physician pairs showed improved continuity compared to Tibetan-Han pairs, highlighting the positive effect of ethnic concordance.

Conclusions

This first study in Tibet reveals that while patient-physician ethnic concordance is associated with improved care continuity, significant disparities persist for Tibetan patients. These findings emphasize the need for culturally competent healthcare policies, support for traditional medicine, improved healthcare access, and targeted interventions for minority groups. The results have potential implications for healthcare delivery in ethnically diverse regions worldwide, as they may help bridge gaps in care continuity, enhance health equity for ethnic minorities in demographically diverse nation.