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Interpersonal trust in doctor-patient relation: Evidence from dyadic analysis and association with quality of dyadic communication

Author

Listed:
  • Petrocchi, S.
  • Iannello, P.
  • Lecciso, F.
  • Levante, A.
  • Antonietti, A.
  • Schulz, P.J.

Abstract

Rationale. Although they form a dyadic relationship, doctor's and patient's levels of trust in the other have usually been investigated separately. As members of dyadic relationships, they influence each other's behaviors and are interdependent because they share a past history and eventually a common future. Objectives. The aim of this paper was to examine the composition of trust in doctor-patients relationship and estimate its association with quality of doctor's communication. One-With-Many analyses (OWM) were used to examine the composition of trust variance into “doctor and patient effects”, “relationship effects”, and “reciprocity effects,” taking into account the interdependence of the data. Method. Twelve General Practitioners (GPs; Mage = 54.16, SD = 12.28, 8 men) and 189 of their patients (Mage = 47.48, SD = 9.88, 62% women) took part in the study. GPs and their patients completed postconsultation questionnaires on trust and quality of communication. Results. The findings revealed that “doctor” and “patient” effects were significant. However, the most important part of the variance was attributable to the relationship and reciprocity effects, meaning that if a doctor reported high trust in a particular patient, then the patient reported a similarly high level of trust. Higher quality of communication was positively associated to those relationship effects of trust. Conclusions. Our study stresses the importance to investigate trust in doctor-patients relationship as a dyadic and interdependent phenomenon applying appropriate methodological design and analysis. Convergence between doctor's and patients' perceptions of their relationship may enhance trust more than conventional intervention and may ultimately contribute to better health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Petrocchi, S. & Iannello, P. & Lecciso, F. & Levante, A. & Antonietti, A. & Schulz, P.J., 2019. "Interpersonal trust in doctor-patient relation: Evidence from dyadic analysis and association with quality of dyadic communication," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:235:y:2019:i:c:9
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112391
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xinzhi Song & Nan Jiang & Honghe Li & Ning Ding & Deliang Wen, 2021. "Medical professionalism research characteristics and hotspots: a 10-year bibliometric analysis of publications from 2010 to 2019," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 8009-8027, September.
    2. Janina Kulińska & Łukasz Rypicz & Katarzyna Zatońska, 2022. "The Impact of Effective Communication on Perceptions of Patient Safety—A Prospective Study in Selected Polish Hospitals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-11, July.
    3. Bagnis, Arianna & Caffo, Ernesto & Cipolli, Carlo & De Palma, Alessandra & Farina, Gabriele & Mattarozzi, Katia, 2020. "Judging health care priority in emergency situations: Patient facial appearance matters," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. Qijun He & Yungeng Li & Zhiyao Wu & Jingjing Su, 2022. "Explicating the Cognitive Process of a Physician’s Trust in Patients: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Annalisa Levante & Serena Petrocchi & Federica Bianco & Ilaria Castelli & Flavia Lecciso, 2023. "Teachers during the COVID-19 Era: The Mediation Role Played by Mentalizing Ability on the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms, Anxious Trait, and Job Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, January.

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