Title:
An Exploration of Medical Mistrust in Urban African American Adolescents with High-risk Asthma

Authors:
Meghna Shukla PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, Deborah Ellis PhD, Ramona Benkert PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAANP, Hossein Yarandi PhD, Wanda Gibson-Scipio PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, ATSF, USA

Abstract:

Background

Little is known about the relationship between medical mistrust and health outcomes in adolescents, particularly minority adolescents with chronic illness. This study explored medical mistrust in African American adolescents with high-risk asthma and their caregivers. Asthma is currently the leading pediatric chronic respiratory condition in the United States, and disproportionately affects urban, disadvantaged, minority children.

Methods:

This study is a cross-sectional descriptive secondary analysis that enrolled caregiver-adolescent dyads of African American individuals with high-risk asthma.

Results:

Medical mistrust levels increased with adolescent age, and males had higher mistrust scores than females. Caregivers with lower educational achievement and lower household income had higher medical mistrust scores. Adolescent medical mistrust scores and adolescent trust in provider scores were inversely related. Adolescent trust and caregiver trust were positively correlated, with similar scores noted. A negative correlation was found between caregiver medical mistrust and adolescent trust in their provider. Medical mistrust did predict poor asthma control. A negative correlation was found between caregiver medical mistrust levels and emergency visits for asthma.

Conclusion:

This study has provided novel findings as the first documented study of intergenerational medical mistrust among urban minority adolescents with high-risk asthma. Study findings indicate that the phenomenon of medical mistrust is complex in nature and affects health outcomes. More detailed research study approaches are required in the future.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2025.9303