Nursing

Distrust of healthcare system higher among African Americans

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, May 5, 2006

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According to a survey recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, African Americans are more likely to distrust the healthcare system than whites. The national survey of 432 African Americans and 522 whites found that 45% of African Americans held low levels of trust, compared to 33.5% of whites. Trust is important, the researchers said, because it influences the degree to which patients follow doctors' orders.

The higher percentage of distrust may be due to the fact that a lack of insurance may force African Americans into emergency rooms or clinics where rapport is not established with doctors and nurses, researchers said.

The report concluded that training designed to improve communication with patients may be needed for providers to help both black and white patients.

Source: Reuters



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