The Influence of Stereotypes on Trust in Doctors from Patients' Perspective: The Mediating Role of Communication.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Su, Fan Wang, Yao Wu, Qing Wang, Pei-Juan Chang, Xin
Copyright Year	2022
Abstract	PurposeTo investigate the relationship among patients’ stereotypes of doctors, effectiveness of doctors’ communication skills evaluated by patients, and patients’ trust in doctors.Patients and MethodsA cross-sectional survey with a total of 3289 patients from 103 hospitals in eastern, central and western China was conducted.ResultsThere were strong correlations among patients’ stereotypes, patients’ evaluation on doctors’ communication skills, and patients’ trust (r = 0.50–0.67, p < 0.01 for all). Patients’ trust was predicted by patients’ stereotypes directly (β = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.27–0.37) and indirectly (β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.16–0.23) through patients’ evaluation on doctors’ communication skills.ConclusionBoth patients’ stereotypes and patients’ evaluation on doctors’ communication skills have predictive effects on patients’ trust. Patients’ stereotypes are not only a direct predictor of patients’ trust but also an indirect predictor via doctors’ communication skills as a mediator. This national survey underlines the significance of patients’ stereotypes, and emphasizes the importance of developing doctors’ communication skills on patients’ trust. In order to build a more trustful doctor–patient relationship, there should be a joint effort at social and individual level to reinforce positive impression and suppress negative stereotypes of doctors. As far as communication skills are concerned, doctors are encouraged to use helpful verbal and nonverbal techniques that benefit their profession impression management.
Page Count	9
Journal	Psychology Research and Behavior Management
Volume Number	15
PubMed Central reference number	PMC9762404
PubMed reference number	36544911
e-ISSN	11791578
DOI	10.2147/PRBM.S389202
Language	English
Publisher	Dove
Publisher Date	2022-12-15
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). © 2022 Su et al.
Subject Keyword	patients’ trust patients’ stereotypes doctors’ communication skills
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Psychiatry and Mental Health Psychology