Constructing a Conceptual Model for Measuring Physician-Patient Trust: Integrating Theory and Research

Trust is a critical dynamic in the physician-patient relationship, essential for achieving positive health outcomes. Drawing on Luhmann's systemic account of trust, Seligman's notion of familiarity as a bridging mechanism, and Weber and Carter's interactional-constructivist approach, this study proposes a theoretically grounded model of patient trust in physicians, one that aligns with existing empirical measures. Seven dimensions of trust were identified through theoretical-empirical mapping of the indicators in existing measurement tools: self-disclosure, communication competence, interpersonal competence, perspective-taking, fidelity, technical competence, and fairness. While self-disclosure and perspective-taking are present in the interactional model of trust, they are absent from the primary empirical measures of trust, highlighting important areas for further measurement development. This study draws on the established distinction between trust as a way of relating to a known autonomous moral agent and confidence in systems, with familiarity serving as a conceptual bridge through which system confidence can become interpersonal trust. By integrating foundational sociological theories with empirical dimensions using an abductive analytical approach, this study proposes a conceptual framework that is intended to guide future measurement development in the study of physician trust.