Healthcare professionals' trust in patients: A review of the empirical and theoretical literatures

Abstract

Trust is considered as an important process in establishing positive patient-professional relationships and healthcare outcomes. While many studies denote the mutualreciprocal nature of trust, there is a strong tendency to consider professionals merely as trustees. This article presents a review of literature addressing healthcare professionals' trust in patients, aiming to identify and compare more theoretical and more empirical contributions on the topic as a basis for developing a research agenda. We examine 31 theoretical and empirical peer-reviewed articles that address healthcare professionals' trust in patients, either as the primary or secondary focus. We found that healthcare professionals' trust in patients is still overlooked in empirical trust studies into healthcare, despite several theoretical and review articles emphasising the relevance of the topic. We propose that future empirical research considers professionals' uncertainties and vulnerabilities, and that theoretical studies reflect more on methodological approaches for researching their conceptualisations. Moreover, our findings suggest that while system-based understandings have been seen as important for considering how patients trust in their healthcare, we argue that This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.

Impacts of Internet Use on Chinese Patients’ Trust-Related Primary Healthcare Utilization

“…In China, patients are more worried about the uncertainty and risk of the competence and intentions of PHC providers compared to secondary and tertiary medical service institutions. Trust may help improve patients’ perceptions of healthcare providers [ 54 ], then enhance their loyalty, further balance their risk and uncertainty perceptions of service delivery processes [ 10 , 13 , 55 ], and provide the basis for patient’s decisions to seek healthcare through PHC. However, the information asymmetry between patients and providers [ 56 ], and the fact that they have become increasingly empowered to make informed decisions [ 10 , 57 ], influenced the patients’ trust in physicians.…”

“…Trust may help improve patients’ perceptions of healthcare providers [ 54 ], then enhance their loyalty, further balance their risk and uncertainty perceptions of service delivery processes [ 10 , 13 , 55 ], and provide the basis for patient’s decisions to seek healthcare through PHC. However, the information asymmetry between patients and providers [ 56 ], and the fact that they have become increasingly empowered to make informed decisions [ 10 , 57 ], influenced the patients’ trust in physicians. Coincidentally, the increase in internet accessibility has enabled the public to seek information (e.g., to search for conditions, symptoms, and treatment options) online before or after visiting physicians [ 58 , 59 ], which is expected to alleviate the traditional information asymmetry between physicians and patients, leading to a profound impact on the trust of patients in their physicians and changing patients’ healthcare choice behaviors even further.…”

“…Patients’ trust in physicians can be defined as a collection of patients’ expectations from physicians [ 6 , 7 ], thus reflecting each patient’s degree of reassurance or confidence in his or her physician [ 8 ]. This trust is the psychological mechanism used by patients to handle disease problems in healthcare contexts characterized by both vulnerability and uncertainty [ 9 , 10 ] and has a critical determinant role in patients’ healthcare-seeking decisions [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Previous studies found that patients’ low trust may restrict their utilization of PHC in China, which leads them often bypass primary care and access the health system at higher-level hospitals when they require medical treatment, even for mild health conditions [ 15 ].…”

Digital Technologies and Data Science as Health Enablers: An Outline of Appealing Promises and Compelling Ethical, Legal, and Social Challenges

“…To obtain guidance and care, patients trust health professionals in a context of asymmetrical information ( 29 ). Conversely, health professionals trust patients to describe their individual experience and their medical history, as well as adhering to recommended behaviors and treatments ( 30 ). Therefore, the doctor–patient relationship is based on mutual trust, which is fundamental to ensure quality of care ( 31 , 32 ).…”

Explicating the Cognitive Process of a Physician’s Trust in Patients: A Moderated Mediation Model

“…Physicians’ trust in their patients cannot simply be increased and maintained through morality or training, but should be considered a socio-psychological concept which is associated with the physicians’ vulnerability [ 11 ]. The physicians’ vulnerability arises from uncertainty: the uncertainty about the patient’s cooperation and the medical outcome [ 12 ] and, more importantly, the uncertainty from the risk that physicians face various types of workplace violence. According to ILO/ICN/WHO/PSI Joint Programme, 8% to 38% of healthcare professionals globally have experienced physical violence being visited on them by patients and visitors; the ratio of suffering threat or verbal aggression is even higher [ 13 ].…”