The authors surveyed nephrologists with regard to quality of life and survival for black and white patients undergoing renal transplantation. The number of physicians who believed quality of life would be improved with transplantation was similar with regard to both black (84%) and white (86%) patients. However beliefs about improved survival were significantly different for black (69%) and white patients (81%, p = 0.001). Reasons for lower transplantation rates for black patients suggested by physicians included patient preference (66%), availability of living donors (66%), failure to complete evaluations (53%), comorbid illness (52%), perceived patient-physician communication and trust (38%) and physician bias (12%). The patients of physicians who did not view patientphysician communication and trust as an important reason for racial differences were less likely to receive information about transplantation if they were black.
