How to build good doctor–patient relationships: refutation texts promote patient trust

Objectives: : Given the practical significance of effectively enhancing patient trust, this study compares the effectiveness of refutation and non-refutation texts in promoting patient trust and further combines it with illness correlation to provide suggestions for existing doctor–patient relationships. Study design and methods : Study 1 used a single-factor design to examine the effects of text form (refutation vs non-refutation texts) on patient trust (moral + technical). Study 2 used a 2 × 2 between-subjects design to examine the effects of text form (refutation vs non-refutation texts) and content (illness-related vs non-illness-related) on patient trust (moral + technical). Study 3 sought assistance from hospital in a real medical environment to further test the applicability and authenticity of the experimental results in real-life situations. Results: : Study 1 showed that patients’ moral trust in the refutation text condition was significantly higher than in the control group and non-refutation text condition. However, there were no significant differences in technical trust. Studies 2 and 3 showed that patient trust in the refutation text condition was significantly higher than in the non-refutation text condition, and patient trust in the illness-related condition was significantly higher than in the non-illness-related condition. Conclusions: : Our findings suggest that refutation texts are most effective in improving patients’ moral and technical trust, especially when the content of the text is related to their own illness. We suggest the use of refutation texts to expand the coverage and accuracy of patients’ medical knowledge and improve doctor–patient interactions.