Americans today report an overall positive attitude toward medical doctors, and most say they trust physicians to do a good job, according to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.  But there are a few areas where the American public is less trusting of physicians, the survey shows. Here is a snapshot of the results:
74% of Americans today have a positive view of medical doctors.
*Older Americans are more trusting of physicians than younger Americans.
Medical doctors care about the best interests of their patients…
All or most of the time: 57%
Some of the time: 33%
Only a little/none of the time: 9%
Doctors do a good job providing recommendations…
All or most of the time: 49%
Some of the time: 42%
Only a little/none of the time: 9%
Doctors provide fair and accurate information…
All or most of the time: 48%
Some of the time: 43%
Only a little/none of the time: 9%
· Younger participants, blacks and Hispanics believe doctors only provide accurate treatment 42% of the time.
· 71% of blacks and 63% of Hispanics expressed levels of concern over professional misconduct.
· 43 percent of whites saw professional misconduct as a problem.
“Long-standing concerns about inequalities in health outcomes for blacks and Hispanics as compared with whites could play a role in these perceptions.”
-Pew Research
Physicians are transparent about conflicts of interest…
All or most of the time: 15%
Some of the time: 50%
Only a little/none of the time: 33%
Doctors admit mistakes and take responsibility…
All or most of the time: 12%
Some of the time: 46%
Only a little/none of the time: 41%
