The mediating effect of trust on the relationship between doctor–patient communication and patients' risk perception during treatment

Abstract

Doctor-patient communication interacts with patients' satisfaction to influence patients' risk perception. Current theories to explain this relationship have assumed particular psychological processes to explain observations of risk-sensitive behavior in an economic setting, but as of yet, they have not addressed whether it is adaptive for a decision-maker in a health-care situation. In addition, little is known about the role of interpersonal trust between doctor and patient. We surveyed 602 patients to examine the way in which trust, communication, and patients' satisfaction are related to patients' risk perception about uncertainties in medical treatment. The results showed that patients held a relatively low level of risk perception, which means that they had insufficient preparation for the possibility of uncertainties about the treatment. The association between doctor-patient communication and patients' perceived risk was mediated by doctor-patient trust. These results suggest that there is a relationship among good doctor-patient communication, patients' trust in medical staff, and perceived risk during medical treatment. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Protocolo Brasileiro para Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis 2020: abordagem às pessoas com vida sexual ativa

“…8 La comunicación en el abordaje de la salud sexual El proceso de comunicación juega un papel importante en la mejora de la relación profesional-paciente y, en consecuencia, en el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones y el tratamiento. 9 Los profesionales de la salud pueden no estar preparados y sentirse incómodos a la hora de abordar a los pacientes con respecto a aspectos relacionados con la enfermedad y la sexualidad. 10 La oferta de una adecuada capacitación podría minimizar esta restricción y contribuir a cualificar el desempeño de estos profesionales, con el objetivo de familiarizarlos con los diferentes conceptos de género, orientación e identidad sexual.…”

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Medical Dissatisfaction Experiences in Chinese Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Patients may feel more satisfied with their medical experience when they have received care conforming to their specific needs and values. 34 Others have shown that patients are likely to trust HCWs when they feel respected and perceive medical staff as attentive and honest, 7 which is helpful to relieve the patients' anxiety due to bad treatment outcomes. Although there is uncertainty and high risk in medical treatment, patients believe they will have a good clinical outcome once admitted to the hospital, regardless of the severity of the disease.…”

“…There is increasing incidence of aggressive behavior by patients against health care workers (HCWs) in many countries, 1,2 especially in China, [3][4][5] which is considered to be an occupational hazard. 3 It is not considered an accidental event but to be caused by a combination of various factors, such as failed doctor-patient relationships (DPR), 6 a low-level of risk perception, 7 flawed medical systems, patients' increasing mistrust of hospitals and physicians, 8 dissatisfaction with staff attitude, 2 and media orientation. 9 Several researches have pointed out there is a direct relationship between the violence and the patients' medical experience.…”

The Influence Factors of Medical Disputes in Shanghai and Implications - From the Perspective of Doctor, Patient and Disease (Observational Study)

“…Therefore, patients should recognize the limitations of medicine and understand that disease is the common enemy of doctors and patients. They should trust doctors fully and actively discuss treatment decisions with doctors to jointly ght against disease [27] . Doctors should fully explain the treatment plan and communicate with patients to reduce their misunderstanding of reasonable medical behavior.…”