It’s a Matter of Trust: Older African Americans Speak About Their Health Care Encounters

Purpose: To examine perceptions of older African Americans’ encounters with health care providers and ways to enhance trust. Method: Transcribed semi-structured interviews with African American senior center members were analyzed, using Pattern Coding method. Results: Four themes emerged: “Added Insult of Ageism,” “Alternative Remedies,” “Good Providers in a ‘Broken’ System,” and “The Foundation of Trust Is Person Recognition.” Provider behaviors leading to mistrust included erroneously assuming stereotypical preferences and competence, spending inadequate time listening to patients, disregarding patient preferences, and insufficiently explaining treatments. Discussion: Of importance to improving trust among older African American patients is valuing individual histories and preferences by reallocating scarce time to person-centered listening, individualizing treatments, more completely explaining interventions, and assuring that patients understand and agree with treatment plans.