Giving Voice to Black Men: Guidance for Increasing the Likelihood ofHaving a Usual Source of Care

• Published in: American journal of men's health 2019-05, Vol.13 (3)
• Main Authors: Stewart, Karyn A, Ristvedt, Stephen, Brown, Katherine M, Waters, Erika A, Trinkaus, Kathryn, McCray Natasan, James, Aimee S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Health care
• ISSN: 1557-9883; 1557-9891
• DOI: 10.1177/1557988319856738

Black men suffer inequalities in health and health-care outcomes relative toother racial/ethnic groups, requiring well-informed efforts for healthpromotion. Fewer Black men have a usual source of health care, which may be acontributor to these disparities. Increasing access to and the likelihood of ausual source of care among Black men are important to address health andhealth-care disparities. In this focus group study, we sought to betterunderstand how Black men think about primary care and usual sources of care. Atotal of six focus groups were conducted with N = 25 men.Groups were a mix of men with and without a usual source of care. Several themeswere identified through analysis of the data regarding factors that contributeto Black men going to the doctor. Themes identified in the data analysisincluded Lack of Health Insurance as a Barrier to Establishing Usual Source ofCare; Family Promoting Health Care Use; Relationship With Doctor, Trust, andEmpowerment; Age and Maturity in Health Promotion; and Positive Tone ofMessaging. Future research should explore if similar findings are obtained amongmen in different regions of the United States or between Black men of differentbackgrounds. Taking a step beyond this research, specifically, future researchcan also examine the impact of particular health messages/messaging on Blackmen’s health-care-seeking behaviors.