Exploring Facets of Trust and Religiosity in Organ Donation for Black and White Americans

This study examines how Black and White Americans perceive two facets of trust (trust in medical doctor and trust in medical care for racial group) and two facets of religiosity (religious service attendance and religious norms regarding organ donation) in relation to the topic of organ donation. Two hundred and one participants (N = 201) were surveyed across the United States using the Qualtrics survey company. Bivariate analyses found donor status was not related to religious service attendance (r = − .001, p > .05) or religious norms (r = .09, p > .05). Donor status was significantly related to trust in doctors, (r = − .25, p < .001) and trust in medical care for racial group, r = − .239, p < .001). Independent samples t-tests revealed Black Americans had significantly lower levels of trust in medical care for racial group than White Americans (t = − 5.14, p < .001) but did not differ in levels of trust in doctor (t = − 1.73, p > .05). The implications of these findings for future research and campaigns are discussed.