Evaluation of patient trust in GPs based on information-seeking methods during primary care consultations.

Abstract

The evolution of medical practice and access to novel technologies, has precipitated a paradigm shift in the way general practitioners access information during consultations. The patient-GP relationship, predicated on trust, may be influenced by the methods used to seek information. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the general practitioner's information-seeking methods during the consultation on patients' level of trust. A quantitative, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among adult patients in the North of France. A standardized and anonymized questionnaire was disseminated online using Lime Survey® and through social networks and flyers that incorporated a QR code. The study assessed patients' level of trust in their general practitioners and the various methods by which they sought information. The study reports on selection and desirability biases linked to recruitment via social networks and the relationship of trust, privileged, longitudinal, and specific to primary care. Most patients trust their general practitioner. A positive correlation was identified between trust and the frequency of information seeking, the information provided to patients, and the sharing of results with them. The level of trust exhibited a negative correlation with the educational attainment of patients, which, in turn, exhibited a negative correlation with the level of trust. The GP's transparency and the patient's involvement in the information-seeking process appear to be pivotal factors in enhancing the relationship of trust. In the context of information seeking, patients are more inclined to place trust in the information provided by a colleague, a trainee, a book, and finally, a computer.