Exploring Patients' Trust from a New Perspective. A Text-Analysis Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Healthcare Communication
• Patient-Provider Relationships

Background:

• Patient trust in medical providers is crucial for adherence and health outcomes but factors influencing it remain debated.
• Existing research often lacks robust methodologies for assessing medical trust.
• A reliable method to explore patient trust is needed to improve healthcare interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key indicators of patient trust in the medical field.
• To explore the potential of a narrative approach in understanding trust dynamics.
• To provide data for developing training interventions aimed at increasing patient trust.

Main Methods:

• A narrative approach was employed to collect patient experiences of trust and distrust.
• Text analysis was conducted using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software.
• The study involved a sample of 82 adult patients recounting their doctor-patient relationship episodes.

Main Results:

• Emotional aspects significantly influence the doctor-patient relationship and patient trust.
• Doctor's benevolence and positive emotions are strongly linked to patient trust experiences.
• Patients feeling secure is a direct outcome of trust in their medical providers.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the importance of emotional connection and perceived benevolence in building medical trust.
• A narrative method effectively captures salient indicators of patient trust.
• Findings can inform the development of interventions to foster trust in healthcare settings.