Introduction. The patients’ trust in primary care physicians has a significant impact on their health.
The objective of the study was to examine patients’ attitudes toward various aspects of trust in family physicians and identify the factors that determine their level of trust in the physician-patient relationship.
Materials and methods. Within the quantitative and qualitative research, a survey of primary healthcare patients and family doctors was carried out.
Results. Factors such as age, gender, level of education, place of residence, as well as patients’ expectations before meeting the doctor, and patient satisfaction with the physician’s behavior during consultation, are significantly related to patients’ trust in family doctors. Trust is important in disease management as it encourages patients to seek medical care, disclose information, adhere to treatment advice, and reduce the financial burden associated with disease. The most important factor in fostering patient-doctor trust is having a caring, committed doctor, who clearly explains information about disease treatment, recommends preventive measures, ensures confidentiality and continuity of healthcare, and involves the patient in treatment. The low level of trust in family doctor is still a pressing problem in Georgia.
Conclusion. There is a need to develop a patient-oriented healthcare system and to promote training programs for family physicians, focusing on factors that enhance patient confidence.
Keywords: primary health care, family physician, trust, doctor-patient partnership.
Full text sources https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2025.60.1.10
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Address for correspondence:
Tengiz VERULAVA
Health Policy Institute, School of Business, Caucasus University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Email: tverulava@cu.edu.ge
