Evaluation and analysis on the degree of patients′ trust in community TCM physicians under the TCM service capability promotion program

Objective To evaluate the degree of trust of patients in community traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)physicians, based on the TCM service capability promotion program, and to analyze the impacts by TCM prevention and health care service. Methods 1 391 patients at 22 primary health service centers in 3 cities from Zhejiang province were investigated using the Chinese version of Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale(WFPTS)in September, 2017. Quantitative and qualitative variables were described by mean±SD, and ratio respectively. Differences were compared by t test, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results Chinese version of WFPTS had good reliability and validity in measuring community TCM physicians. The average scoring of patients′ trust in community TCM physicians was 38.00±6.42, while their benevolence and competence were 19.14±3.41, 18.82±3.50 respectively.For patients with different demographic characteristics, their quantity and the way to acquire and utilize TCM prevention and health care service had different degrees of trust in community TCM physicians. Patients′ gender, age, awareness and utilization of TCM prevention and health care service, etc. affect the degree of trust in community TCM physicians. Conclusions Patients have higher degree of trust in community TCM physicians, and improving the rate of awareness and utilization of TCM prevention has positive impacts on the degree of trust in these physicians. It is proposed that health knowledge education be strengthened and skills of community TCM physicians′ capacity be enhanced through various ways. Key words: Community health service; Health manpower; TCM physician; Doctor-patient trust; Prevention and health care service