**Forthcoming in Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP) 20.3. All rights reserved.**
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: After Mercy Hospital closed, PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar (Cedar) opened on its site. According to our survey three years later, only 17.6% of households in the catchment area used Cedar’s services. A history of hospital closures and the former hospital’s reputation contributed to deep community mistrust in local health care institutions.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined community awareness of, trust in, and willingness to try Cedar.
METHODS: Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, the evaluation team, a Community Advisory Board, and an Evaluation Committee developed a representative household survey. Analysts used chi-squared tests and logistic regression to identify factors related to awareness, trust, and willingness to use services.
RESULTS: Almost (60%) of respondents were unaware that Cedar is now operating on the former hospital site and 58.8% reported willingness to use its services. Respondents who selected Health Provider skills (63%; p=.004) as the trust variable most likely to increase willingness are most likely to use Cedar. The regression model, including all predictors, showed the odds of being aware were highest among residents living in the neighborhood >2 years (AOR=2.89 CI = 0.89-2.73), the odds of being willing to use Cedar were highest among residents with asthma (AOR=3.0 CI = 1.65-6.09]) and lowest among residents diagnosed with a heart condition (AOR= 0.002 CI = 0.07-0.51)].
CONCLUSION: Community mistrust continues to limit Cedar’s reach. Trust-building efforts that center transparency, provider quality, and community voices can increase utilization and ensure health equity.