Investigating Patient Trust in Doctors : A Cross-Sectional Survey of Out-Patient Departments in Fiji

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence on the positive impact of trust in a doctor-patient relationship on health outcomes, there are limited studies conducted in Pacific Island Countries including Fiji. This study was conducted to assess the current level of patient trust in doctors and investigate its determinants in Fiji. Method: A random sample of 410 participants attending the outpatient services completed the self-administered structured questionnaire. The response rate was 91% (N=375) and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and analytic analysis using logistic regression. Result: Mean age of participants was 38years (±15yrs). The majority of patients had partial trust in their doctors compared to full trust (61.6% vs 38.4%). More than half of the participants perceived doctor's communication behavior as fair rather than good (53.6% vs 45.6%). Those over 50 years (OR 1.96; p=0.007, 95% CI: 1.198-3.226) and those who perceived doctors' communication behavior as good (OR 8.48; p=0.0001, 95% CI: 5.257-13.709) were significantly more likely to have full trust in the doctors. Conclusion: This study reveals that age and communication are determinants of trust in Fiji. In view of the current perception of the doctors' communication behavior, Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services should implement policies to give equal importance to the communication skills of the doctors together with their clinical skills and enforce it in the medical schools.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:41

Enthalten in:

International quarterly of community health education - 41(2021), 4 vom: 01. Juli, Seite 369-377

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Chandra, Swastika [VerfasserIn]
Ward, Paul [VerfasserIn]
Mohammadnezhad, Masoud [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Determinants
Doctor-patient communication
Fiji
Journal Article
Trust

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 03.08.2021

Date Revised 03.08.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1177/0272684X20967602

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM316559318