Trust in the Healthcare System and Physicians in Croatia: A Survey of the General Population

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Krunoslav Nikodem
• Author: Marko Ćurković
• Author: Ana Borovečki
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Social Medicine and Health Care Organization)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care; Social Medicine

Abstract (english)

Trust in healthcare systems and physicians is considered important for the delivery of good healthcare. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random three-stage sample of the general population of Croatia (N = 1230), stratified by regions. Of respondents, 58.7% displayed a high or very high level of trust in the healthcare system, 65.6% in physicians, and 78.3% in their family physician. Respondents' views regarding patients' roles in the discussion of treatment options, confidence in physicians' expertise, and underlying motives of physicians were mixed. Respondents with a lower level of education, those with low monthly incomes, and those from smaller settlements had lower levels of trust in physicians and the healthcare system. Trust in other institutions, religiosity and religious beliefs, tolerance of personal choice, and experience of caring for the seriously ill and dying were predictors of trust in healthcare and physicians. Our findings suggest that levels of healthcare-related trust in Croatia are increasing in comparison with previous research, but need improvement. Levels of trust are lowest in populations that are most vulnerable and most in need of care and protection.

• Keywords (english): Croatia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians, Family; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trust
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: International journal of environmental research and public health
• Numbering: vol. 19, no. 2, 993
• p-ISSN: 1661-7827
• e-ISSN: 1660-4601
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020993
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:314839
• Publication: 2022-01-16
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/2/993
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-06-30 08:29:57