Pre-consultation information about one’s physician can affect trust and treatment outcome expectations

Methods

In this experimental web-based study, participants (n=237) read vignettes describing competence and empathic skills (low versus high) of a fictive physician who would surgically remove a mole or melanoma (low versus high severity) following a 2x2x2 between-subjects design. Participants next rated trust in the physician and treatment outcome expectations. Results: High physician’s competence and empathy raised pre-consultation trust in the physician, regardless of condition severity.

Both high competence and empathy also increased expected surgery success, while only high competence reduced expected side effects. Conclusion: Pre-consultation information highlighting a physician’s competence and/or empathy may lead to higher trust in that physician, higher expected surgery success, and lower expected side effects. Practice Implications: Physicians and hospital staff should be aware of the effects of written information available and might, for example, provide profiles on hospital websites emphasizing competence and empathy of healthcare providers.