Black Teenage Male and Caregiver Perspectives on Anticipatory Guidance for Police Encounters

Black families often address police interaction safety with a conversation known as "The Talk." Previous academic literature centering the physician's perspective has proposed pediatrician involvement in anticipatory guidance on this topic. This study explores the views of Black teenage male individuals and their caregivers on pediatricians discussing safe police interactions as part of routine guidance and seeks to identify key factors for facilitating these discussions.

Semistructured interviews were conducted individually with Black male individuals aged 13 to 18 years and their caregivers. Participants were recruited from primary care well visits at an academic institution in west Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Interviews were conducted virtually, recorded, and transcribed for analysis. Themes were validated by randomly selected participants of the study.

A total of 47 participants, including 20 youth-caregiver dyads, completed interviews. Participants supported pediatrician involvement in anticipatory guidance for teenagers about navigating police encounters, emphasizing that conversations should seek to improve youth safety and reduce fear during police encounters. Interviewees felt that racial concordance with pediatricians was not essential if the discussion was compassionate and culturally sensitive. Caregivers expressed a desire to align pediatrician guidance with family teaching and child's social and cognitive development. Participants preferred one-on-one conversations with pediatricians to enhance receptivity.

Black teenage male individuals and their caregivers are open to pediatricians discussing police interactions as part of anticipatory guidance, emphasizing a tailored, sensitive approach. Further research is needed to investigate the perspectives of Black non-male youth and other populations disproportionately impacted by police violence.