Racial centrality may be linked to mistrust in healthcare institutions for African Americans

Evidence suggests that racial identity is an important component to African Americans’ self-concepts and therefore may be relevant to patients’ trust in healthcare, yet little is known as to how racial identity may influence trust or mistrust. African American adults (N = 220) in the greater Portland, Oregon, area provided survey reports of healthcare-related attitudes and experiences. Those who reported higher racial centrality had lower trust in healthcare institutions. Based on these findings, clinicians employing patient-centered care approaches should recognize racial identity as an important component to patients’ experiences when they seek to deliver equitable care to African American patients.