Trust is critical to public health. People who mistrust the health care system put their health and lives at risk because they are less likely to visit a physician, less forthcoming in conversations with clinicians, and less likely to comply with medical advice and prescriptions. Such mistrust can undermine physician-patient interactions, leading to deteriorating patient outcomes and increased physician burnout.
Conversely, when a physician can build trust, patient satisfaction improves. That matters: Evidence shows a direct correlation between exceptional health care…
