Racial differences in parents' distrust of medicine and research.
OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare the attitudes and trust that African American and white parents have toward their children participating in research.


METHODS
Self-administered, cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of parents.


METHODS
Primary Care Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh from August 2004 through April 2005.


METHODS
One hundred ninety parents (140 African American and 50 white parents).


METHODS
Parental distrust of medical research as measured by a summative score of distrusting responses to 8 questions assessing trust in research.


RESULTS
African American parents had significantly greater distrust than white parents (67% vs 50%, P = .04). Education was also associated with having significantly greater distrust (74% of those with <high school education vs 44% of college graduates, P = .03). However, African American race remained a predictor of distrust even when education was controlled for (odds ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of parental distrust toward medical research was significantly greater among African American parents. Parental distrust may be a barrier to enrollment of African American children in clinical research. Strategies for overcoming the higher level of distrust in African American parents are warranted for ensuring adequate representation of African American children in clinical research.
Rajakumar
Kumaravel
K
General Academic Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583, USA. kumaravel.rajakumar@chp.edu
Thomas
Stephen B
SB
Musa
Donald
D
Almario
Donna
D
Garza
Mary A
MA
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010372:Pediatrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035502:Trust; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult