A Roadmap to Reduce Medical Mistrust with Black Patients in Primary Care

It’s no secret that trust in healthcare is a major concern for Black patients. According to data compiled over the past four years through MHQP’s annual statewide Patient Experience Survey, there is a significant disparity in trust between Black and White patients in primary care in Massachusetts. Although trust is the foundation of high-quality healthcare, there is a dearth of research on this subject. Primary care holds a pivotal role in establishing trust, ultimately contributing to enhanced health outcomes and the mitigation of health disparities.

To help direct future research in this area, MHQP partnered with the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), Boston Medical Center (BMC), and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) in a project funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EASCS #35226).* The primary output of this effort is a Roadmap for identifying the best methods to research and reduce medical mistrust among Black patients in primary care.