Patient perceptions of trust formation in the surgeon-patient relationship: A thematic analysis.
Norman D Hogikyan, Lulia A Kana, Andrew G Shuman and 1 others
PMID 33583655WHAT IT FOUND
Patients described trust in surgeons as driven by interpersonal connection, not just technical skill.
Prior knowledge of the surgeon and witnessing positive team interactions also built confidence. All participants reported complete or near complete trust after meeting their surgeon.
Key findings
01Participants highlighted relational aspects of the clinic visit, such as kindness and thoroughness, as key facilitators of trust over informational or transactional aspects.
02Trust was influenced by prior knowledge of the surgeon's reputation and by witnessing the surgeon's interactions with other members of the clinical team.
03All participants articulated complete or near complete trust in their surgeon after meeting them, regardless of their prior knowledge or openness to trust.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (17 participants) and used convenience sampling. All participants were White/Caucasian, limiting transferability to minority populations where trust may be affected by healthcare disparities. All participants reported positive experiences with their surgeons, suggesting potential selection bias or a lack of patients with negative experiences. The study was conducted in a single tertiary academic medical center, which may not reflect other settings.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high levels of reported trust as evidence that current surgical care models universally produce trusting relationships. The participants were all patients who had already decided to proceed with surgery and reported positive experiences, which may exclude those with distrust or negative outcomes.