Trust is essential for establishing an effective primary care professional (PCP)-patient relationship that influences the overall success of primary care. Attempts to improve primary care utilization, establish inclusive care, and resolve health inequities can be ineffective when there is a lack of trust between patients, PCPs, and health systems. In response to the increasing attention and awareness of medical mistrust in recent years, BMC Primary Care announces a new Collection, Trust and mistrust in primary care. This Collection aims to collate research that evaluates how trust, mistrust, and distrust arise and impact the delivery of primary care, alongside research that explores novel approaches to promote health equity by improving the relationship between primary care institutions and the communities they serve.

By launching this Collection, BMC Primary Care aims to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Meet the Guest Editors

Derek T. Dangerfield II, PhD, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health

Dr Derek Dangerfield is a prevention scientist with expertise in health behavior research, social science theory, and sexual health promotion among racial and sexual minority men. His primary research promotes sexual health for Black sexual minority men throughout the USA. Currently, Dr Dangerfield is leading a digital prospective cohort study to identify changes in HIV care outcomes among Mid-Atlantic Black sexual minority men. He is an Associate Professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Achim Mortsiefer, PhD, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany

Dr Achim Mortsiefer has been working as a GP in Cologne, Germany, since 2003 and is Professor of General Practice at the Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany. His research focuses on doctor-patient communication, multimorbidity, polypharmacy & drug therapy safety in primary care. He is a member of the European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) and one of the founders of the German Deprescribing Network (GerDeN). Additionally, he is Chair of General Practice II and Patient-Centredness in Primary Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (IAMAG).

Submission guidelines

This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Review articles will be considered at the Editor’s discretion. Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have read our submission guidelines. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, SNAPP. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select [“Trust and mistrust in primary care”] from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Guest Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Guest Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.

If accepted for publication, article processing charges applies. Please click here to find out about our standard waiver policy.

The Collection is now open for submissions! The submission deadline is 15 January 2025.