Inadequate cancer screening: Lack of provider continuity is a greater obstacle than medical mistrust

Lauren D. Arnold, Martha M.O. McGilvray, J. Kyle Cooper, Aimee S. James

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Racial minorities and low-income individuals are generally less likely to have adequate cancer screening than Whites or higher-income individuals. Purpose. To examine the roles of medical mistrust and lack of provider continuity in cancer screening in a low-income minority population. Methods. A total of 144 urban federally qualified health center patients completed a cross-sectional survey that included the Group Based Medical Mistrust Scale and questions on provider continuity and cancer-screening-history. Results. Breast cancer screening was associated with continuity of care but not mistrust (respectively p =. 002, p >. 05); colon cancer screening was not significantly associated with either factor (p >. 05). Conclusions. Findings suggest that among low-income minority adults continuity of care is more strongly associated with screening than medical mistrust. Shift ing focus from medical mistrust—a patient-level issue—to establishing health care homes—a system-level issue—may be a more effective strategy for reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer screening.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)362-377
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2017

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer screening
  • Colon cancer
  • Continuity of care
  • Low income
  • Mistrust
  • Racial minorities

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