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Racial differences in medical mistrust among men diagnosed with prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Halbert Chanita Hughes,
Weathers Benita,
Delmoor Ernestine,
Mahler Brandon,
Coyne James,
Thompson Hayley S.,
Have Thomas Ten,
Vaughn David,
Malkowicz S. Bruce,
Lee David
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.24249
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , psychological intervention , specialty , socioeconomic status , health care , health equity , family medicine , observational study , cancer , gerontology , demography , public health , population , environmental health , nursing , sociology , economics , economic growth
BACKGROUND: Mistrust of healthcare providers and systems is a significant barrier to quality healthcare. However, limited empirical data are available on perceptions of medical mistrust among individuals who are diagnosed with cancer. The objective of this study was to identify sociodemographic, clinical, and cultural determinants of mistrust among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. METHODS: The authors conducted an observational study among 196 African‐American men (n = 71) and white men (n = 125) who were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer during 2003 through 2007. RESULTS: Race, education, healthcare experiences, and cultural factors had significant effects on mistrust. African‐American men ( P = .01) and men who had fewer years of formal education ( P = .001) reported significantly greater levels of mistrust compared with white men and men who had more education. Mistrust also was greater among men who had been seeing their healthcare provider for a longer period ( P = .01) and among men with lower perceptions of interdependence ( P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggested that efforts to enhance trust among men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer should target African‐American men, men with fewer socioeconomic resources, and men with lower perceptions of interdependence. Reasons for deterioration in trust associated with greater experience with specialty providers should be explored along with the effects of interventions that are designed to address the concerns of individuals who have greater mistrust. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.