"I Wasn't Heard at All": Black patients' perspectives on communication in surgery.

BACKGROUND

Black patients in the United States face persistent disparities in surgical care, influenced by structural barriers and differences in communication. In conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), where multiple treatment pathways exist, provider communication plays a critical role in building trust and shaping treatment decisions. This study explores Black patients' perceptions of patient-provider communication using CTS as a model.

METHODS

We conducted 28 in-depth interviews using interpretive description to examine the experiences of Black patients receiving surgical care at a single academic institution in the Midwest. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified three themes: Dismissiveness, Lack of Empathy, and Power of Information. When symptoms were dismissed, empathy was lacking, or key information was withheld, participants reported reduced trust, disengagement from care, and reluctance to pursue treatment.

CONCLUSION

Addressing communication barriers is essential to reducing disparities and advancing equity in surgical care for Black patients.