The Importance of Patient Trust in Doctors

The Importance of Patient Trust in Doctors Trust is critical to strong doctor-patient relationships and high quality outcomes. Infographic by Steve Wilkins, MPH. © Copyright 2011 Providers with high levels of "patient trust" consistently deliver better outcomes like: Better Adherence More engagement Greater Pt. Self Disclosure Increased satisfaction Enhanced Self Care More loyalty MORE PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOR Fewer Test & Referral Requests "Trust" is a function of how patients perceive the following 3 physician attributes: Do Patient's "Best Interests" Come First? Technical Competency Interpersonal Competency Does patient feel the interests of pharma, health plans, etc. Physician's Physician's communication skills clinical skills like listening, empathy, etc come first? %D Level of "Patient Trust" in Physician Since patients can't reliably assess clinical competence, patient perceptions of a physician's communication skills and "best interests" are what drives patient trust. Taking the Temperature of Patient Trust Level of Patient Trust In Physicians By Race 2010 36% White 64% Variations in care across ILow groups maybe due in part to high levels of distrust trust in ethnic 44% I High Black 56% physicians. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% N= 2,843 How do you rate your doctor's attention to what you have to say? % of Patients reporting their experience as "Excellent" or "Very Good" One of the biggest complaints patients have about their physicians is that they don't listen. Listening is a key Total 59% НМо 56% communication skill. Fee for Service 65% Medicare 61% PPO 61% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Patients are not convinced If your doctor wanted you to participate that physicians, including their own, are putting in research vwould you trust he or she would explain it to you? their "best interests" first. With talk about 23.4% I African American doctors serving as paid spokespersons for pharma it is no surprise. 41.7% I White % of Respondents that say No or DK Sources Infographic by Steve Wilkins, MPH. Copyright 2011 Corbie-Smith G., et al. Distrust, Race, and Research. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2002, 162. Appleby, C. Getting Doctors to Listen to Patients. Managed Care Magazine. December 1996. Thom, D. et al. Measuring Patients' Trust In Physicians When Assessing Quality Of Care. Health Affairs. 23, no.4 (2004):124-132. Armstrong, K. et al. Distrust of the Health Care System and Self-Reported Health in the United States,. Journal General Internal Medicine. 2006; 21:292-297. Durant, R. et al. Trust in Physicians and Blood Pressure Control in Blacks and Whites Being Treated for Hypertension in the Regards Study. Ethnicity and Disease. 2010; 20(3): 282-289 Low Malpractice Risk Health status