Most of us grew up trusting healthcare professionals and facilities. If a doctor told us to take a medicine or receive a vaccine, we almost always did it without hesitation. The notion of “doing our own research” — at its most extreme, shopping for information that confirmed our beliefs, no matter how outlandish or medically unsound — was unthinkable during the pre-internet dark ages. How times have changed. According to “Trust in Physicians and Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” published in July by JAMA Network Open, trust levels plummeted across every sociodemographic group between April 2020 and January 2024, from 71.5% to 40.1%. Not surprisingly, the less trust individuals have in the healthcare system, the less likely they are to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot. Unfortunate outcomes have ensued.
Can trust in doctors and hospitals be rebuilt? In the era of social media and rampant suspicion of many previously unimpeachable institutions, it won’t be easy. Here’s a breakdown of the research results.
From the August 01, 2024 Issue of MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
