Academic Medicine Open Forum

 View Only

Increasing trustworthiness to increase maternal health equity

  • 1.  Increasing trustworthiness to increase maternal health equity

    Posted 05-13-2025 04:00:00 PM

    New polling data from the AAMC Center for Health Justice offers insights that you can use to build trust with patients during the perinatal period. A March 2025 survey found that trust declined slightly from pregnancy to the postpartum period- particularly among younger adults and members of racial and ethnic minority groups. So how can health care providers reverse that trend? 

     

    Respondents identified the following as the most important provider actions to build trustworthiness: 

    • Clear and honest communication 

    • Empathy 

    • Respect for patients' choices and autonomy 

     

    National Women's Health Week is the perfect time to share best practices around building trust with patients during the critical perinatal period. Please reply to this discussion with tips on what's worked for you.

    You can read more in the polling brief here: Trustworthy Care from Conception to Cradle: A Key Ingredient for Maternal Health Equity | Center For Health Justice



    ------------------------------
    Mia Bechak
    Association of American Medical Colleges
    ------------------------------