Sickle Cell Journeys: Healthcare Providers at the Front Lines

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD), the most common inherited blood disorder in the US, is an illness community with egregious inequities. In this single case study, we interviewed four healthcare providers in the SCD center of a children’s research hospital. Our objective was to understand the communication strategies they use to cope with limited resources and opportunities inherent in an area stymied by systemic racism and stigma. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), we identified six themes: mental models, mistrust, balancing priorities, disparities, stigma, and advocacy. We then contextualized those themes using the social ecological model. We argue that health communication scholars have a rich field of inquiry in SCD that we need to develop in our quest to address health inequities.

Publication Title

Southern Communication Journal

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