Association between trust in the public healthcare system and selecting a surgeon in public hospitals in Israel: a cross-sectional population study

ConclusionsPublic trust in the public health system is a fundamental condition for maintaining an efficient and equitable health system in Israel. The survey suggests that uncertainty regarding the identity of the surgeon who will perform a procedure in a public hospital may be linked to a sense of insecurity and distrust of the public in the public health system. This study did not examine the causal relationship between the various factors, but the study data suggests a possible link between lower trust in the system and a lower perception of its equitability, and a subsequent associated increase in the public ’s desire to select a surgeon. This study suggests to recognize public trust as a central and significant tool to strengthen public health system. One of the ways to strengthen the public’s confidence in the public health system could be to provide the patient with reliable information regarding parameters such as the identity of the senior surgeon in the operating room or the surgeon’s suitability for the patient’s medical condition.
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research