Perception of racism explains the difference between Blacks' and Whites' level of healthcare trust.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the level of healthcare trust does not differ between Blacks and Whites.


METHODS
Cross-sectional telephone-based survey.


METHODS
This study recruited low-income residents of Miami-Dade and Duval counties in Florida by using random-digit dialing (RDD). One thousand and five residents participated; however, analyses were limited to Black (n=550) or White (n=374) respondents. Trained interviewers used a structured questionnaire to obtain information about respondent demographics, trust in health care, perception of racism, and access to care.


RESULTS
Black respondents included fewer males (P=.0146) and younger subjects (P < or = .05); otherwise, they were similar to White respondents. Compared to Duval County respondents, Miami-Dade respondents were younger (< or = .05), richer (< or = .05), and mostly males (P=.0355). Blacks perceived more racism than did Whites (P<.0001). Healthcare trust differed by race and respondents' county (P<.0001). The proportion of variance in healthcare trust explained (R2) by race was 2%. Introducing perception of racism into the model eliminated differences in trust between White and Black respondents. Overall, the model explaining healthcare trust accounted for 21.2% of the variance in trust; the model adjusted for respondents' county, demographics, access to care, and liking treatment during routine appointment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study observed that perception of racism accounted for the residual differences in healthcare trust between Whites and Blacks; therefore, healthcare distrust may not be an attribute of Blacks. Respondents' experience with the healthcare system accounted for most of the difference in trust.
Adegbembo
Albert O
AO
Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida 32608-1128, USA. aadegbembo@dental.ufl.edu
Tomar
Scott L
SL
Logan
Henrietta L
HL
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011287:Prejudice; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012938:Social Perception; D035502:Trust; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American