Medical mistrust: One obstacle on the path to health equity

Medical mistrust is a major barrier to achieving health equity. Before we can effectively discuss health equity, we should talk about medical mistrust. Patient trust in healthcare was eroding before the pandemic. Between the 1960s and 2010s, confidence in healthcare leaders dropped by 53 percent, from 73 percent of adults to 34 percent. Yet, achieving equitable healthcare depends on turning the tide of trust between provider organizations and patients. (author abstract)