Trust in Healthcare

Abstract

" Trust in physicians is defined as the optimistic acceptance of vulnerability by the patients and seekers of health care in the belief that the provider will do what is best for them. Trust is an important intrinsic good in health care. Trust in health care leads to improved adherence to treatment, continuity of care, increased self efficacy and self reported health, better disclosure of sensitive information and avoidance of unnecessary investigations. Most of the studies of trust in health care are from developed country settings. The scales to measure trust are also largely based on developed settings. Trust in health care in developing countries is likely to be different because of health inequities, low public budget allocation, inadequate quality of health care and organization of the health system. There is a need to understand trust in the setting of developing countries. This review looks at the social construct of trust in health care, its dimensions, determinants, and whether trust can be built as currently understood and whether it needs to be different in the developing country settings"