Internet usage and patient's trust in physician during diagnoses: A knowledge power perspective
研究了患者上网搜索疾病信息如何影响其对医生的信任，发现自我诊断与医生诊断不一致会降低信任，但医生沟通质量仍是关键。
Does patients’ Internet search of disease information affect their trust in physicians during diagnosis? This study proposes a research model from a knowledge power perspective, that is, Internet search affects patients’ perception of their knowledge level. Our empirical study of more than 400 subjects suggests that for patients who searched online for disease information, the inconsistency between their self‐diagnosis expectations and their physician's diagnosis reduces their trust in their physician. The effect is stronger for those who spent more time on Internet search. Patients with chronic conditions are less affected by the inconsistency, as are patients of physicians with a higher professional status. This study also found that physicians’ interaction quality in the diagnosis process—how well they communicate with their patient—still plays a dominant role in gaining patient's trust. This finding suggests that even in the high‐tech age, high‐touch remains an important factor to physician‐patient trust.