Table 1

Candidate Items for Trust in the Patient Scale

ItemDescription (Root: “How confident are you that this patient will…”)
1Provide all the medical information you need?a
2Answer your questions honestly?
3Accurately report (not exaggerate or downplay) his or her symptoms?
4Let you know when there has been a major change in his or her condition?a
5Tell you about all medications and treatments he or she is using?a
6Understand what you tell him/her?a
7Accept your medical judgment?
8Believe what you say?
9Follow the treatment plan you recommend?a
10Ask appropriate questions?
11Be actively involved in managing his/her condition/ problem?a
12Tell you if he/she is not following the treatment plan?a
13Tell you if she/he has a problem with something you did?
14Respect your time?a
15Respect personal boundaries?a
16Not make unreasonable demands?a
17Not manipulate the office visit for secondary gain (eg, for inappropriate disability certification or prescription of controlled substances)?a
18Keep his or her appointments?a
  • Notes: Response scale: 1 = not at all confident; 2 = a little confident; 3=some-what confident; 4=mostly confident; 5=completely confident. Relationship of items to themes from the qualitative study: provide accurate and complete information (items 1–5), adhere to the agreed upon treatment plan (items 6–9), actively participate in his or her care (items 10–13), respect the physician (items 14–16), not manipulate for secondary gain (item 17), remain committed to the relationship (item 18).

  • a Items retained in final scale.