Effects of perceived racism, cultural mistrust and trust in providers on satisfaction with care

• Published in: Journal of the National Medical Association Vol. 98; no. 9; pp. 1532 - 1540
• Main Authors: Benkert, Ramona, Peters, Rosalind M, Clark, Rodney, Keves-Foster, Kathryn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Limited 01-09-2006; National Medical Association
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans - psychology; Aged; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Physician-Patient Relations; Prejudice; Trust - psychology
• EISSN: 1943-4693
• ISSN: 0027-9684

Discriminatory treatment of African Americans in healthcare is well recognized, yet the literature is unclear on the specific role that perceived racism and mistrust play in the patient-provider relationship. The purpose of this study was to test a mid-range theoretical model entitled Perceptions of Racism and Mistrust in Health Care (PRMHC). This model hypothesized that perceived racism influences cultural mistrust, which affects trust in providers--and these combined psychosocial aspects of healthcare affect satisfaction with the care received. One-hundred-forty-five African-American subjects participated in structured interviews to collect demographic and psychosocial data. Provider data was obtained through chart audits. In a group of low-income African Americans in two primary care clinics, perceptions of racism and mistrust of whites had a significant negative effect on trust and satisfaction. Perceived racism had both a significant, inverse direct effect on satisfaction as well as a significant indirect effect on satisfaction mediated by cultural mistrust and trust in provider. Structural equation modeling analysis supported the hypothesized theoretical relationships and explained 27% of the variance in satisfaction with care. The findings add to the existing literature by enhancing our understanding of the complex perspectives on trust and overall satisfaction with care among African-American patients. Results suggest that improving health outcomes for African Americans requires a broader understanding of cultural competence, one that addresses societal racism and its impact on provider-patient relationships.