Do You Trust Your Doctor?
Studies show that many Americans don’t… especially in marginalized communities
Many people today avoid visiting the doctor unless they absolutely need to. The extent of many Americans’ interactions with healthcare include urgent care clinics, one-off visits or, more recently, urgent care apps. These resources are valuable when you’re sick, but they can’t replace the importance of having an ongoing physician who regularly monitors your health.
Over the past several decades, the healthcare system has become increasingly impersonal and difficult from the patient’s perspective. A significant portion of people don’t even have a primary care doctor. A contributing issue is that many Americans don’t trust doctors or the healthcare system.
In 1966, more than 75% of Americans reported having high levels of confidence in medical workers. By 2012, only 34% felt that way. In 2019, only 15% of Americans reported feeling a “great deal” of confidence in the U.S. medical system. The declining levels of trust in the U.S. healthcare system reflect fundamental and structural issues with the way Americans can access and receive care.
This lack of confidence in the healthcare system is even higher among people of color and other marginalized communities.
