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Abstract:
Conspiracy theories are seldom considered in today's health care environment; however, the concept of conspiracy theory can greatly influence patients' decisions to seek health care, trust their health care providers, and make behavioral changes affecting their health. In African American culture, belief in conspiracy theories may play a significant role in health care. The purpose of this concept analysis is to define and explore the concept of conspiracy theory and its rehtionship to African American culture. Because conspiracy theories can add layers of complexity to the health care environment, analyzing the concept of conspiracy theory is significant to nursing.
Key Words: African American, conspiracy theories, concept analysis
The concept of conspiracy theory is seldom considered in relation to healda care; however, this concept can greatly influence patients' decisions to seek health care, trust their providers, and make behavioral changes affecting their health. Belief in conspiracy theories may play a significant role in health care, particularly among African Americans. In daily practice, some African American patients are skeptical of health care providers and the health care system. They may express concern about discrimination, fear of victimization, distrust, and exploitation. Indeed physician attitudes and interactions with patients are often colored by the patients race (Lillie-Blanton, Brodie, Rowland, Altman and Mcintosh, 2000). Although conspiracy theories are not unique to African Americans, Waters (1997) reported that a belief in conspiracy theories may be linked to areas of uncertainty in interethnic relations.
My Perspective
As an African American provider, I'm often viewed as an individual who can be trusted to provide accurate and unbiased information. The concept of conspiracy theory was brought to my attention by an adolescent patient. She expressed genocidal fears and beliefs in conspiracies. As a researcher, I wished to explore of the effect of conspiracy theories on African American women's contraceptive choices. Before I embarked on this exploration, however, it was important to clarify the concept of conspiracy theory. The purpose of this concept analysis is to define the concept of conspiracy theory and to raise awareness of the role conspiracy theories play in today's health care environment.
Method
Concept analysis enables nursing researchers to understand and clarify defining characteristics ofunique words or concepts. It is often used in theory development to yield clear...