Immigrant and Mistrust in the Healthcare Setting: A Thematic Review

Migration profoundly impacts the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide, yet little attention has been given to the concept of mistrust within immigrant healthcare contexts. This article presents a thematic literature review analyzing peer-reviewed articles to explore the nuanced dimensions of mistrust among immigrant populations receiving healthcare. The thematic analysis then carried out reveals that mistrust is mobilized in different ways and four key themes were analyzed: (1) the definition of mistrust given by the authors; (2) their study population, more particularly, who was mistrusting and who/what the object of their mistrust was; (3) the main sources of mistrust identified by the authors and rooted in various life situations and interactions; and finally, (4) the effects of mistrust reported by the authors, which included effects on beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. Understanding and addressing the roots and effects of mistrust are crucial for fostering trust-based healthcare relationships and improving health outcomes for immigrant populations. This research underscores the importance of culturally competent care, effective communication strategies, and policies aimed at reducing systemic biases and discrimination within healthcare systems to build trust and promote health equity among immigrant communities.