The Patients' Presupposed Distrust to Doctors in China: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Medical sociology
• Patient psychology

Background:

• Patient distrust poses a significant barrier to effective healthcare delivery.
• Understanding the root causes of patient distrust is crucial for improving patient-provider relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current prevalence of patients' presupposed distrust.
• To identify the key factors contributing to high levels of patient distrust.

Main Methods:

• An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• 384 patients completed a survey assessing presupposed distrust; 16 high-scoring patients participated in interviews.

Main Results:

• The mean score on the Patients' Presupposed Distrust Scale (PPDS) was 3.59, indicating high distrust.
• Personal income and educational level were significant predictors, explaining 17.3% of the variance in distrust.
• Key causes identified include moral character, health knowledge, patient perceptions, and social circumstances.

Conclusions:

• Patients exhibit a high level of presupposed distrust that requires intervention.
• Socioeconomic factors like income and education significantly influence patient distrust.
• Both internal patient factors and broader social contexts contribute to the formation of distrust.