Huang, Alina

Freshman, College of Science and Health

Major: Health Sciences

Honors Course: HON 100: Rhetoric and Critical Inquiry

Faculty: Julie Bokser, Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse

Abstract: By understanding several major factors actively contributing to medical mistrust, more effective solutions addressing high levels of medical mistrust can be generated and implemented, thus reducing and preventing such pervasive negative health outcomes as have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic so far. Thus, this paper investigates the relationship connecting four key contributors to greater levels of medical mistrust: history, psychology, current healthcare injustice, and social media. These themes were explored specifically regarding marginalized groups, whom are most negatively affected by medical mistrust. A self-fulfilling cycle of medical mistrust perpetuated by a culmination of these themes was established.