Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Trust relations in a changing health service

Calnan, Michael .W., Rowe, Rosemary (2008) Trust relations in a changing health service. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 13 (S3). pp. 97-103. ISSN 1355-8196. (doi:10.1258/jhsrp.2008.008010) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:14858)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/jhsrp.2008.008010

Abstract

Objective: Trust in health care is an important policy area although research has tended to focus on interpersonal trust between patient and practitioner and has neglected trust relations at the organizational and institutional levels. Each of these levels of trust may have been influenced by recent policy and organizational changes in the NHS as well as wider cultural changes. Our aim was to explore the relationship between patients, practitioners and managers to identify if there was any evidence of changes in trust relations. Method: A comparative case study design in two different clinical and organizational settings. Results: Trust is still important for effective therapeutic and working relationships but the nature of that trust and how it is lost and won appears to be affected by the organizational context in which health services are delivered. The increasing partnership between patients and clinicians in managing health problems and the greater inter-dependence of clinicians and managers in providing multidisciplinary shared care have changed how patients, clinicians and managers trust each other. For many informants trust can no longer be assumed, it is conditional and has to be earned. However, the sources of trust are the quality of the patient-clinician interaction, the competence and empathy that is displayed rather than informed trust based on abstract disembodied data. Likewise in inter-practitioner relationships and clinician-manager relations trust no longer appears to be primarily based on professional status and seniority, instead it appears to be conditional and may be earned through a variety of strategies that demonstrate honesty, reliability, competence, accessibility and an indication that colleagues share similar values and have a common agenda. Conclusion: Trust is still important for effective therapeutic and working relationships.

Conclusion: Trust is still important for effective therapeutic and working relationships.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1258/jhsrp.2008.008010
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Suzanne Duffy
Date Deposited: 17 May 2010 11:49 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/14858 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.