Assessment of physician-patient trust in the obstetrics and gynecology departments in Poland and Greece

Abstract

Summary Aim: To evaluate patient trust in their physicians of the obstetrics and gynecology departments. Material and Methods: We used the Trust in Physician Scale comprising 11 - items. Data were collected from 150 women hospitalized in the obstetrics and gynecology departments in Poland and 109 in Greece. Results: Of the surveyed, 25.3% from Poland and 47.4% from Greece did not doubt their doctor’s proper care. Almost 90% of the respondents from Poland and 58.8% from Greece agreed with the statement “I trust my doctor very much, that is why I always comply with his/her advice”. More than 68% of the patients from Poland and 56.9% from Greece were convinced that “if my physician tells me something, this has to be the truth”. Almost 77 % of patients from Poland and 43.1% from Greece declared trust in their physician’s therapy. Eighty-four percent of women from Poland and 49.55% from Greece were convinced that their doctor is a true expert in the treatment of their diseases. Nearly 97% of the patients from Poland and 35.8% from Greece did not declare fear of their physician not keeping the professional secret. Conclusions: The Trust in Physician Scale is an appropriate tool for assessing levels of patient trust in their gynecologist. Patients reported a relatively high degree of trust in their gynecologists. Women from Greece more often than from Poland did not trust their physicians, and declared that doctors did not do all for their care.