A new study has revealed that breast cancer patients of different races and ethnicities may not pick surgeons and hospitals in the same way.

As per the study Black and Hispanic women were less likely to make choices factoring doctor and hospital’s reputation as compared to White women.

Researchers for the study, whose findings were published in JAMA Oncology, involved 222 White women, 142 Black women and 136 Hispanics women. All these women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2011.

The study showed that the most common reason for selecting a particular doctor was reference by someone. But researchers also found that minority patients were less likely to factor reputation of hospital or doctor.

Only 18% Black and 22% Hispanic patients considered doctors' reputation whereas 32% White patients chose surgeons based on their reputation, showed study.

Researchers associated with the study said, “White women more likely than minority women to select surgeons and hospitals based on reputation and less likely to be directed to surgeons and hospitals by their health plan or other physicians”.

The study suggested that the differences in how people select healthcare providers can help to explain racial differences in use, delivery and quality of medical care.

Lead author Dr. Rachel Freedman, during the study found that most women involved in the study chose their surgeons based on their doctors’ recommendations, and they picked their hospital because of their health plan.

On deeper analysis, researchers found that 19% of Black women and 87% of Spanish-speaking Hispanic women listed their doctors’ recommendations as a reason for selecting their surgeons, compared to 76 percent of White women.

Freedman said some further research will be needed to know the reasons behind making different selections. But presently they can only say that White woman might be more active in selecting providers when determining their cancer care.