One Small Shift – Preventive Care With Agency

Preventive care is often talked about like it is simple: make the appointment, get the screening, follow up, and check it off the list.

But for many people, especially in Black and Brown communities, preventive care can feel more complicated than that. Feelings of being ignored, dismissed, or minimized in healthcare settings can affect how people engage with care.

Sometimes we avoid it because we are nervous about what we might find out. Sometimes we are tired of trying to explain what we feel in our bodies and not being fully heard. Sometimes we have been rushed, dismissed, talked over, or made to feel like our concerns were not serious enough.

Even when we do not call those moments out, they can stay with us.

They can affect how much we trust providers. They can affect how quickly we seek care. They can affect whether we feel safe saying, “Something does not feel right in my body, and I need help figuring it out.”

This month is not about doing everything at once.

It is about noticing.

Notice one preventive care item that may need your attention while remembering that your voice belongs in your care.

What the Research Is Actually Saying

Preventive care includes screenings, annual visits, dental care, vaccines, lab work, follow-up appointments, and conversations with healthcare providers. These types of care can help identify health concerns earlier and support long-term health.

Research also shows that people may delay or avoid medical care for many reasons, including fear, discomfort, cost, time, mistrust, or uncertainty about whether care is really needed.

This matters because avoidance is not always about not caring.

Sometimes avoidance is connected to stress, overwhelm, past experiences, or the emotional work of trying to navigate a system that has not always made people feel respected, believed, or protected.

Preventive care is not only about showing up to the appointment.

It is also about being able to speak clearly about what you are feeling, ask questions, request explanations, and expect your healthcare team to work with you.

One Small Shift

This month, review one preventive care item.

Not to schedule it immediately.

Not to fix it today.

Not to shame yourself about it.

Just notice it.

This month is about noticing.

It may be:

• A screening you have postponed
• A question you want to ask a provider
• A follow-up you have been avoiding
• A dental appointment you keep putting off
• A lab result you never fully understood
• A symptom or body change you keep minimizing
• A concern you brought up before but still do not feel resolved about

The shift is awareness.

Before action, there is often a moment of honesty.

And sometimes that honesty sounds like:

“I need to stop ignoring this.”

“I need more information.”

“I did not feel heard the last time.”

“I want to ask again, but more directly.”

“I need a provider who will take this seriously.”

How to Try It

Take a few minutes this week and write down one preventive care item that has been sitting in the back of your mind.

Then ask yourself:

• How long have I been thinking about it?
• What feeling comes up when I think about it?
• Have I avoided this because of fear, frustration, confusion, or a past experience?
• What would make the next step feel more doable?
• What do I need to ask, say, or understand before I move forward?

You do not have to make the appointment today.

You are simply shifting your awareness.

If you are ready to take it one step further, write down one sentence you could say to a healthcare provider, such as:

“I have been noticing this change in my body, and I want to understand what could be causing it.”

“I brought this up before, but I still have questions.”

“Can you explain why this is your recommendation?”

“What should I watch for, and when should I follow up?”

“Can we discuss what preventive screenings make sense for me based on my age, family history, and current health?”

Why This Works

Preventive care is not about being perfect.

It is not about catching up on every appointment, screening, or follow-up all at once.

It is about noticing what needs attention before it becomes a crisis.

It is about staying connected to your health in realistic ways.

It is about listening to your body and not talking yourself out of what you know you are feeling.

This month, let the shift be simple:

• Notice one thing.
• Name one thing.
• Write down one question.
• Begin with honesty, not shame.

Remember…

Preventive care is not about being perfect.

It is not about catching up on every appointment, screening, or follow-up all at once.

It is about staying connected to your health in realistic ways.

This month, let the shift be simple:

• Notice one thing.
• Name one thing.
• Begin with honesty, not shame.

Small awareness still counts.

Let that be enough.

More topics from the author.

References

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Preventive Care. MyHealthfinder, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Powell, W., Richmond, J., Mohottige, D., Yen, I., Joslyn, A., & Corbie-Smith, G. (2019). Medical mistrust, racism, and delays in preventive health screening among African-American men. Behavioral Medicine, 45(2), 102-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2019.1585327

Taber, J. M., Leyva, B., & Persoskie, A. (2015). Why do people avoid medical care? A qualitative study using national data. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 30(3), 290-297.

Brittany Sloan

Brittany Sloan is a health + wellness coach, yoga teacher, and run coach who brings two decades of clinical research experience into every conversation about well-being. Her background spans academic medical centers and sponsor-level roles from clinical assistant and study coordinator to regulatory and compliance work giving her a grounded, evidence-informed perspective on what keeps people well.

She is the founder of ThreeBreaks Wellness, a coaching and consulting practice rooted in restoration, self-trust, and sustainable healing. Her work is deeply shaped by a love for Black people our health, our stories, our survival, and our joy. Brittany supports clients in reconnecting with themselves, realigning their lives, and reclaiming the parts of their wellbeing that systems have historically ignored.

She shows up with warmth, honesty, and a steady, nurturing presence offering guidance that is both compassionate and direct, always grounded in the belief that Black folks deserve care that honors the fullness of who we are.