Some Americans have reportedly lost trust in the medical profession during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study. The study found that a significant number of individuals who experienced a decline in trust are now less likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or the flu.
Lead researcher Dr. Roy Perlis, from the Center for Quantitative Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasized the importance of trust in physicians and hospitals for public health. Perlis highlighted the need to address various factors that may have contributed to the loss of trust during the pandemic.
The politicization of medicine during the COVID-19 crisis raised concerns that people’s trust in their doctors may have diminished. Data from 24 waves of internet surveys conducted between April 2020 and January 2024, with over 582,000 responses from more than 443,000 U.S. adults, revealed a sharp decline in trust in doctors serving in hospitals.
Researchers noted that individuals who lost trust in doctors tended to be between 25 and 64 years old, female, residing in rural areas, and with lower educational levels and incomes. Even after accounting for political affiliations, the associations between loss of trust and demographic factors remained.
The study also highlighted the impact of trust on vaccination rates, with greater trust increasing the likelihood of individuals getting vaccinated against infectious diseases. Perlis emphasized the need to rebuild trust to achieve public health goals and prepare for future pandemics.
Reasons for low levels of trust included questioning the financial motives of doctors and hospitals, doubting the quality of care, suspecting influence by external entities or agendas, and perceiving discrimination or bias. Perlis emphasized the need to address these different reasons to rebuild trust effectively.
Overall, the study underscores the importance of trust in the medical profession for public health and the challenges posed by the decline in trust during the pandemic. Strategies to restore trust will be crucial for addressing vaccination barriers and preparing for future public health crises.
The findings of the study were published in JAMA Network Open on July 31, highlighting the need to consider individual reasons for mistrust and adopt tailored approaches to rebuilding trust in the medical profession.
