Introduction.

Trust in physicians is associated with the observance of treatment, keeping the treating physician, willingness to recommend the physician, fewer disputes, perception of greater effectiveness of care, and improvement in health self-perception.

Methods.

The present narrative review explores factors that scientific literature relates to trust in physicians and organize them into those associated with patients' characteristics and those associated to physician's ones. The first group includes the patient's sociodemographic antecedents, health condition, selection of the physician, experience in the system, satisfaction, and symmetry of perspectives. The second group includes physician's sociodemographic characteristics, online information, physical appearance, communication, emotional intelligence, and humility.

Results.

From this revision, authors synthesize five bits of advice for physicians to improve patients' trust: a) be friendly to online information; b) take care of your personal aspect; c) show empathy, honesty, and competence; d) actively include patients in decision-making; and e) accept that we all make mistakes.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )