Trust: An Integrative Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Business
• Philosophy
• Law
• Medicine
• Social Work

Background:

• Trust is a critical concept examined across multiple academic disciplines.
• A comprehensive, integrated understanding of trust, particularly within nursing, is lacking.
• Previous research has explored trust in isolation within various fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an integrative, cross-disciplinary literature review to enhance the nursing knowledge base on trust.
• To synthesize existing research on trust from diverse fields.
• To develop a unified understanding of the phenomenon of trust.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review methodology was employed.
• Scholarly articles were synthesized from nursing, business, psychology, philosophy, law, medicine, and social work.
• The review focused on identifying common themes and integrated perspectives on trust.

Main Results:

• Three predominant themes emerged from the cross-disciplinary synthesis: trust prompts authentic relationships, trust fosters confidence, and trust engenders vulnerability.
• The review identified a lack of integrated trust research.
• Authentic relationships, confidence, and vulnerability are key components of trust.

Conclusions:

• Trust is a multifaceted construct essential for authentic relationships, confidence-building, and navigating vulnerability.
• Integrating knowledge from various disciplines provides a richer understanding of trust in nursing.
• Further research should explore the practical applications of these integrated trust concepts in healthcare settings.