Measuring trust in one's physician: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Psychometrics
• Patient-Provider Communication

Background:

• Physician trust is crucial for positive health behaviors.
• Existing trust measures are numerous and varied, leading to conceptual ambiguity.
• A comprehensive review is needed to clarify measurement approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify new developments in physician trust measurement.
• To find reliable and valid trust measures developed or refined in the last decade.
• To compare the conceptualizations, dimensions, and indicators of these instruments.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of electronic databases (PubMed, SOCAB, PsycINFO).
• Screening of studies by two independent reviewers.
• Identification and comparison of key trust measurement tools and their dimensions.

Main Results:

• Six key measurement tools were identified, with three having shorter forms.
• The Trust in Oncologist Scale is the only tool validated in non-US populations.
• Ten dimensions of trust were identified, with interpersonal competence and fairness noted as emerging areas.

Conclusions:

• Discrepancies in trust indicators require theoretical and psychometric attention.
• Item-response theory can enhance the assessment of external validity.
• This review offers a resource for a more unified understanding and development of trust measures.