Patient Consumerism, Healing Relationships, and Rebuilding Trust in Health Care

Abstract

This Viewpoint discusses barriers to building trust between physicians and patients and offers recommendations to increase that trust, including minimizing emphasis on patient consumerism, promoting authentic partnerships, and accelerating select payment and delivery system reforms.

Doctor-patient communication and trust in doctors during COVID 19 times—A cross sectional study in Chennai, India

“…One other previous empirical evaluation of trust in doctors in Tamil Nadu, close to the study setting, also revealed a high level of trust in doctors [ 16 ]. While there have been reports of eroding trust in physicians and the health system in the United States during the COVID 19 times because of a lack of consistent public health messaging on hydroxychloroquine and masks in the country, such a pattern of lack of trust has not been seen in India [ 17 , 18 ]. The dimensions of trust in physicians in a low- and middle-income country setting like India have been explored in the past and the key dimensions are perceived competence, assurance of treatment, respect and loyalty [ 19 ].…”

Healthcare leadership lessons from COVID‐19

“…Some strategies include for clinicians to prepare with intention before the visit, listen intently, prioritize what matters most to patients, connect with patient's story, while acknowledging barriers and exploring and validating emotional cues. 10,11 At an organizational level, PALTC leaders should prioritize the assessment and improvement of trust (e.g. using Net Promoter Scores), and if trust is broken, there should be systems for swift accountability and a remedial plan.…”

“…13 Fusion-cell approach, used by the navy presents an excellent model. 10 The pandemic has put healthcare leaders, particularly those in the PALTC, in focus. Beyond addressing day to day issues, they will have to practice and master skills that provide proactive solutions to complex issues that have infested our healthcare systems for decades.…”

Where Trust Flourishes: Perceptions of Clinicians Who Trust Their Organizations and Are Trusted by Their Patients

“…Theirs is one of few theoretically based studies of trust in relationships and encounters. A recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association devoted several articles [6][7][8][9] and an editorial 10 to trust among patients and clinicians. These articles establish trust as a contemporary metric of concern.…”