COVID-19 erodes doctor–patient communication, trust in doctors

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as related restrictions such as lockdowns and physical distancing, have created barriers to doctor–patient communication and may have worsened trust in doctors, a recent study has found.

Researchers cross-sectionally surveyed 359 people attending a tertiary care centre in Chennai, India, seeking care at the outpatient department, in wards, or in isolation facilities. Participants were asked to answer a questionnaire designed to evaluate perceptions in three major domains: difficulties in accessing the health facility, difficulties in doctor–patient communication, and trust in doctors.

Majority of the participants either agreed or somewhat agreed that the lockdown made it difficult for them to access health facilities. Moreover, physical distancing, masks, and personal protective equipment often made it difficult to understand doctors’ instruction, weakening patient–doctor communication, according to over 60 percent of the participants.

Nevertheless, more than 80 percent of respondents said that they still trusted doctors, indicated by their high level of respect and belief that physicians do what is in their patients’ best interests.

Multivariable linear regression analysis, however, showed that difficulties in communication (β, –0.63; p<0.001), as well as a higher level of education (β, –0.42; p=0.034), was a significant deterrent to trust.

“The COVID-19 experience has taught us that during pandemic times, while it is important to focus on public health measures, it is equally important to keep people at the centre of the healthcare enterprise,” the researchers said.

“This study further contributed to this idea by clearly indicating that doctor–patient communication and trust are very important considerations during pandemic times,” they added.