Mandates of Trust in the Doctor-Patient Relationship

This article explores the terms of the trust relationship between patients and doctors. Trust relationships are not usually negotiated overtly. This study relies on a combination of interviews and observations. Sixteen patients and eight GPs from Norway participated in the study. It appeared that trust relationships were negotiated implicitly. Doctors were mandated by patients to make assessments to varying degrees as doctors. We called this phenomenon a patient-doctor trust mandate. More open trust mandates seemed necessary to ensure effective and humane treatment of patients with more complex diseases. These trust mandates were given if the doctor had previously shown interest in the patient, was responsive and took the time.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399112002522?casa_token=jBU2AxadYpAAAAAA:qWsTBhpBfzEqaITIwH4rvNPppLu_u2S5hw4uaHhnHee16ZWVAMPTOen