Encounters with medical professionals: a crisis of trust or matter of respect?

Med Health Care Philos. 2008 Dec;11(4):427-37. doi: 10.1007/s11019-008-9156-9. Epub 2008 Jul 30.

Abstract

In this paper I shed light on the connection between respect, trust and patients' satisfaction with their medical care. Using data collected in interviews with 49 women who had managed, or were in the process of managing, their risk of ovarian cancer using prophylactic surgery or ovarian screening, I examine their reported dissatisfaction with medical encounters. I argue that although many study participants appeared to mistrust their healthcare professionals' (HCPs) motives or knowledge base, their dissatisfaction arose not from a lack of trust, but from HCPs' failure to treat them as persons or take their concerns seriously. I conclude by describing how respect, as evidenced by "being taken seriously", is important for the development of trusting Patient-HCP relationships.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Female
  • Health Personnel*
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Sociology, Medical*
  • Trust*