In this episode, Dr. Derek Griffith shared his work around trust, distrust, and mistrust. He provided a walk-through of those distinctions he described in his paper.

It's true that the terms "medical mistrust" and "medical distrust" are often used interchangeably without a clear distinction between them. This can sometimes lead to confusion and misunderstanding when discussing issues such as radicalized health disparities and the impact of historical events like the Tuskegee study.

Regarding the use of "medical mistrust" in addressing health disparities, some argue that it may not be the most effective way to approach justice efforts. By focusing solely on mistrust, we may miss the opportunity to build trusting relationships and address the root causes of distrust.

As for your question on the link between trust and health equity/justice, it's important to recognize that trust is a critical component in healthcare delivery and outcomes. Patients who trust their healthcare providers are more likely to adhere to treatment plans and experience better health outcomes. Additionally, trust is essential in addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. Without trust, marginalized communities may be hesitant to engage with healthcare systems or may not receive the care they need.

Finally, in regard to intervention research and implementation, building trusting relationships among stakeholders is key to successful implementation and sustained positive outcomes. As the theoretical model proposed by Allison Metz et al highlights, trusting relationships can increase motivation, capability, and opportunity for supporting implementation. This ultimately leads to greater commitment and resilience, which are essential for achieving positive implementation outcomes.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Derek M. Griffith is a Founding Co-Director of the Racial Justice Institute, Founder and Director of the Center for Men’s Health Equity, Member of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Professor of Health Management & Policy and Oncology. He recently was elected Chair of Global Action on Men's Health and appointed to be on the Board of Directors of the Men's Health Network.

Trained in psychology and public health, Dr. Griffith’s program of research focuses on developing strategies to achieve racial, ethnic and gender equity in health. He specializes in interventions to promote Black men's health and well-being and interventions to address racism in organizations and to mitigate the effects of structural racism on health. Dr. Griffith is a contributor to and editor of three books – Men’s Health Equity: A Handbook (Routledge, 2019), Racism: Science and Tools for the Public Health Professional (APHA Press, 2019), and Health Promotion with Adolescent Boys and Young Men of Colour: Global Strategies for Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice in Context (Springer, 2023).

He is the author of over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and he has been the principal investigator of research grants from the American Cancer Society, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and several institutes within the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Griffith serves on the editorial boards of several public health and men's health journals, and he has been a guest editor of journal special issues or supplements on African American men's health, men's health equity, qualitative approaches to health equity research, and other topics.

He has received three noteworthy honors: (a) Tom Bruce Award from the Community-Based Public Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association in recognition of his research on “eliminating health disparities that vary by race, ethnicity and gender”, (b) he was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior for his significant contributions to the field of health behavior research, and (c) he was named one of 1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America by the Cell Mentor’s Community of Scholars.