Declining trust in healthcare: what it means for you as a clinician
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Trust has long been a cornerstone of effective medical care. Patients who trust their clinicians are more likely to follow treatment plans, seek preventive care, and communicate openly. Yet national data show that public trust in healthcare, and in physicians specifically, has declined in recent years, creating new challenges at the point of care.
While most patients still trust their own doctor, clinicians are increasingly encountering skepticism, misinformation, and hesitation that can complicate even routine clinical interactions.
What the data shows
Multiple national surveys confirm a measurable decline in trust in physicians and health information sources:
- The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reports that trust in one’s own doctor to make the right health recommendations declined from 93% in 2023 to 85% in early 2025, based on its national Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust.
- A separate KFF national poll, summarized by the Advisory Board, found similar results, showing declining confidence in doctors alongside reduced trust in health information more broadly.
- Longitudinal research from the Civic Health and Institutions Project (formerly the COVID States Project) shows that public confidence in doctors and hospitals fell substantially between 2020 and 2025, mirroring declines in trust in science and public institutions overall.
Although physicians remain more trusted than many other institutions, the downward trend is meaningful and increasingly visible in clinical encounters.
Why Patients are more skeptical
Information overload and misinformation: Patients are exposed to an unprecedented volume of health information from social media, online forums, and consumer AI tools. Conflicting messages, especially during and after the COVID19 pandemic, have made it harder for patients to distinguish evidence based guidance from opinion.
Erosion of institutional trust: Trust in public health agencies and scientific institutions has declined sharply since 2020. According to national polling summarized by Medical Economics, skepticism toward institutions often spills over into clinical encounters, even when patients still value their individual physicians.
Historical and ongoing inequities: Distrust is more pronounced among communities that have experienced discrimination or inequitable access to care. Coverage in MedCity News highlights that patients’ prior experiences, and perceptions of fairness and respect, strongly shape whether clinicians are viewed as trustworthy.
What this means for clinical practice
From a risk management perspective, declining trust is not just a cultural issue – it has practical consequences:
- Patients may be less adherent to treatment plans
- Preventive care and follow up may be delayed or declined
- Clinical discussions may take longer and feel more adversarial
- Misunderstandings are more likely to escalate into complaints
Research consistently shows that trust is a protective factor. Even when adverse outcomes occur, patients who feel heard and respected are less likely to pursue grievances or claims.
Where trust still remains strong
Despite broader societal trends, there is an important counterbalance: patients continue to place greater trust in their own physicians than in almost any other source of health information.
KFF data show that even after recent declines, more than 8 in 10 Americans still trust their personal doctor, and studies suggest trust is strongest when care feels local, relational, and individualized rather than institutional or remote. This reinforces a key takeaway for members: trust is built one encounter at a time.
Practical takeaways for members
While clinicians cannot control societal forces, they can influence trust at the bedside:
- Normalize questions and uncertainty. Patients asking “why” is now the norm.
- Explain the reasoning behind recommendations, especially when guidance has changed.
- Acknowledge concerns without defensiveness. Feeling heard often matters as much as the answer itself.
- Document shared decision making, particularly when patients decline or hesitate.
Small communication choices can have an outsized impact on trust, safety, and professional risk.
Bottom line
The decline in public trust in healthcare reflects broader societal shifts – not a failure of individual clinicians. While the environment has changed, the data also shows reason for optimism: patients still trust their own doctors more than almost anyone else.
By focusing on transparency, empathy, and clear communication, clinicians can strengthen patient relationships, improve outcomes, and reduce risk, even in an era of growing skepticism.