Work

Low medical trust predicts delays in seeking care among U.S. individuals who smoke: Findings from the 2022 HINTS

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Individuals who smoke face increased risk for chronic disease but often delay seeking care, hindering prevention efforts. Low medical trust is a barrier associated with care delays in the general population; less is known about this relationship among people who smoke. We examined whether low medical trust predicted delays in seeking care among U.S. individuals who smoke ( n = 431, weighted n = 20.8 million), using the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey. We conducted a pre-registered, multivariate logistic regression with medical trust predicting delayed care (within the prior 12 months) as the outcome. Covariates included race, sex, age, education, financial strain, chronic conditions, self-reported health, and insurance. Lower trust was associated significantly with a higher likelihood of delaying needed medical care (OR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.31, 0.93]). Participants who were Black/African American (vs. non-Hispanic White), aged 65–74 (vs. 18–34), and those who reported better general health were significantly less likely to delay care (all p < .05). Lower trust predicted delayed care-seeking among people who smoke. Future research should explore whether anticipated stigma explains this relationship. Findings highlight the need to bolster trust in healthcare (e.g., communication interventions) to facilitate engagement in preventive care (e.g., smoking cessation, lung cancer screening).

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103420

Authors: Whitney M. Brymwitt, Timothy J. Williamson

Institution: Loyola Marymount University

Language: English

Topic: Smoking Behavior and Cessation

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610