Perspectives of African Americans Diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease and Their Perceptions Regarding Accessibility of Care

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final phase of kidney disease. African Americans make up 35% of all ESRD cases, which is rising. They lead all other racial groups and are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ESRD. Researchers have reported quantitative results involving this population, but none have focused on their experiences. The researcher sought to capture the experiences of these patients and their perceptions regarding access to healthcare to determine the role that access to care played in their condition. Interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of their experiences related to their use of healthcare services. The narrative approach allowed recreation of 10 participants’ personal stories. Findings show health literacy, lack of trust in the healthcare system, poor relationships with providers, unwillingness to adhere to medical advice, and inability to avoid conditions that cause ESRD were identified as barriers. Participants emphasized desires to help other African Americans avoid ESRD and its devastating life changing events. Additional qualitative studies are needed to capture more experiences of African Americans to help spread awareness to improve health literacy, incorporating enhanced cultural competence for healthcare professionals, and additional training in relationship-building to improve trust between patients and providers. Successful implementation of these social changes would potentially impact the African American community and healthcare professionals caring for them