Commentary: Trust in Clinicians is Earned
In commentary published in The American Journal of Medicine, the authors discuss declining public trust in clinicians and the growing challenge of medical mistrust, noting that mistrust is more common among patients who are female, Black, Native-American, from low-income or rural settings, and have experienced discrimination in health care. Mistrust may come in the form of patients questioning clinicians’ intentions, which can negatively impact outcomes, while trust is associated with improvements in satisfaction, quality of life, and symptom management. The article emphasizes strategies to earn trust, including active listening, acknowledging systemic issues, discussing experiences of mistrust, and individualizing care based on patient preferences.