Trust in African Americans' Healthcare Experiences

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Disparities
• Sociology
• Health Equity

Background:

• Historical mistreatment of African Americans in healthcare, stemming from slavery, has created systemic mistrust.
• This mistrust leads to reluctance in seeking care and exacerbates health disparities.
• Understanding the roots of mistrust is essential for addressing current healthcare inequities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the concept of trust in healthcare.
• To identify the defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of trust.
• To apply the concept of trust to the healthcare experiences of African Americans.

Main Methods:

• Concept analysis using Walker and Avant's method.
• Literature review utilizing CINAHL, Medline, and historical/sociological sources.
• Examination of trust-building opportunities within African American healthcare contexts.

Main Results:

• Key attributes of trust include dependence, willingness, and met expectations.
• Antecedents to trust involve a need for assistance and prior experiences.
• Consequences of trust relate to evaluating congruence between expected and actual provider behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Trust is defined as a willingness to engage in a dependent relationship, sustained by met expectations.
• Developing trusting relationships is vital for mitigating health disparities among African Americans.
• Cultural context is a dynamic factor for nurses building relationships with minority communities.