COVID-19: An Opportunity to Restore Lost Trust? A Narrative Review of Trust Trends Before and After the Pandemic

Karimi, Hanieh; Farahmand Asil, Ali; Saeedi Tehrani,  Saeedeh

Volume 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics IJMEHM 2024, 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics : 1-4 | Back to browse issues page

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Karimi H, Farahmand Asil A, Saeedi Tehrani S. COVID-19: An Opportunity to Restore Lost Trust? A Narrative Review of Trust Trends Before and After the Pandemic. IJMEHM 2024; 17 (S1) :1-4
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7016-en.html

COVID-19: An Opportunity to Restore Lost Trust? A Narrative Review of Trust Trends Before and After the Pandemic

Hanieh Karimi ^*¹, Ali Farahmand Asil², Saeedeh Saeedi Tehrani³

1- Simultaneous medical student and virtual master of medical education of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Medical student of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics, Medical school, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (971 Views)

Trust between doctors and patients is a cornerstone of improved health outcomes and quality medical care. However, this trust has eroded in recent decades due to various factors. The global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to examine and analyze changes in public trust towards the healthcare system. This narrative review explores the state of public trust in healthcare before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing the factors influencing this trust and proposing strategies for its maintenance and rebuilding. A narrative review was conducted, with information gathered from searches in reputable national and international scientific databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Scopus. Relevant articles from Iranian databases such as Magiran and IranMedex were also included. The review focused on the components of trust, factors affecting it, and challenges faced by the healthcare system during the pandemic. The review revealed significant changes in the components of trust in doctor-patient relationships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, public trust in physicians had been declining due to factors such as perceived inequities in treatment, medical errors, and unprofessional behavior by some healthcare professionals. For example, surveys indicate a decline in public trust in healthcare professionals in the United States, dropping from 73% in 1966 to 34% in 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated this decline, with many people distrusting governmental institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and media outlets perceived to be providing misleading information. A study in Poland found that 31% of respondents viewed the pandemic as an exaggerated threat, while 3% considered it entirely fictional. However, the dedicated service and transparent communication of some institutions and healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 crisis partially restored public trust. This led to the emergence of a concept known as "dual trust," where people not only trust individual physicians but also pay closer attention to the overall performance of the healthcare system and governments. Dual trust has implications not only for the quality of healthcare services but also for the success of prevention and treatment programs. The COVID-19 crisis has had a profound impact on public trust in the healthcare system. To maintain and rebuild this trust, effective measures are essential. These measures should focus on enhancing service quality, fostering scientifically informed citizens, ensuring transparent communication, and promoting positive interactions between doctors and patients.

Keywords: Trust, Doctor-patient relationship, COVID-19 pandemic, Healthcare system, Dual trust

Full-Text [PDF 387 kb] (173 Downloads)

Type of Study: Oral Presentation | Subject: Health Ethics Congress (11th) - Oral Presentation
Received: 2025/07/28 | Revised: 2026/01/12 | Accepted: 2024/12/22 | Published: 2024/12/22