The Impact of Discrimination and Poor Provider Communication on Public Trust in Cancer Advice From Physicians

Trust in physicians is an important factor influencing patient engagement and health outcomes. While prior studies have explored the role of trust in cancer patients, there is limited research assessing trust in physicians regarding cancer-related information, including prevention, among the general population. This study aims to assess the impact of negative healthcare experiences, including poor provider communication and discrimination, on physician trust in cancer-related advice. This study utilized the Health Information National Trends Survey 6, a nationally representative survey. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify associations between covariates and trust in physicians' cancer information. Patients reporting dissatisfaction across all 7 patient-communication categories exhibited the lowest rates of trust among all covariates (aOR: 0.34, CI [0.28-0.42]). Respondents who experienced racial or ethnic discrimination in healthcare were less likely to express high trust (aOR: 0.65, CI [0.50-0.84]). Racial disparities were also identified, with non-Whites and Hispanics reporting lower levels of trust. This study highlights the significant association of negative healthcare interactions on trust in physicians' cancer-related advice and underscores the need for improved patient-centered communication.