Physician-patient trust has been deteriorating for years. There are different reasons for reduced levels of trust between patients and doctors. However, ensuring patients have confidence in their care providers and that doctors feel safe at work will be critical in recentering trust moving forward so patients can receive the highest possible level of care.
Causes of Lowered Physician-Patient Trust
Trust among the general public in the healthcare industry is declining. In 1975, 80 percent of the population reported having a positive view of the healthcare industry. In 2018, that number dropped to just 34 percent. Patients evaluate how much they trust their doctor based on competence and intentions. Twenty percent of adults in the United States have been victims of discrimination in the healthcare system. Incidents like this erode patients’ trust in the goodwill and ability of doctors.
Doctors’ trust in their patients is eroding due to acts of aggression targeting healthcare workers. Fifty-nine percent of doctors in the United States have been subjected to offensive comments about their identities. Acts of workplace violence against healthcare workers are nearly as common. Sixty percent of nurses report being victims of sexual assault and less than half of emergency department doctors have been victims of physical violence. If doctors have concerns about their safety around patients, the physician-patient bond that is essential for high-quality care cannot be built.
Improving Physician-Patient Trust
Physician-patient trust is a two-way street. Patients need to feel heard and that they can communicate with their care providers, while doctors need to feel safe at work. A number of new strategies aim to boost trust between parties.
Centering trust in patient-doctor interactions will be key to improving safety and well-being for everyone. First, the issue of physician trust in patients needs more attention. Research often examines patient trust in doctors, but not doctors’ trust in patients. Raising awareness of this issue will lead to the implementation of more solutions that make doctors feel safe at work.
New legislation aims to make physicians feel safer in the workplace. Congress proposed the SAVE Act, which would provide funding to address healthcare worker violence. It would also make violence against hospital employees a crime. Policies like the SAVE Act will make physicians feel more comfortable in the workplace. This will improve trust and communication with patients, ensuring they can trust their doctors.
Get Certified
American Medical Compliance (AMC) is a leader in the industry for compliance, billing, and HR solutions. Learn more about improving trust and safety in provider-patient interactions by taking AMC’s Recognizing Abuse and Violence Training For Healthcare Professionals course today. Visit https://americanmedicalcompliance.com/ for more information.
Reference
Health Affairs (2022, November 28). The Overlooked Role Of Physician Trust In Patients. Retrieved from: https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/overlooked-role-physician-trust-patients.
