In an intervention study evaluating the use of a decision
aid (a tool created to assist patients in deciding on the type
of cholesterol therapy to use) to increase patient trust was
undertaken (Nannenga et al. 2009). While there was no
statistically significant increase in overall trust scores
between the intervention and control group, two items on
the trust scale used in the study reached statistical significance.
Most interestingly, when the decision aid was used,
patients were more likely to score their doctor higher on
the item ‘my doctor listens well so he/she understands your
needs and concerns’. In the light of the previously discussed
findings regarding communication as a variable positively
influencing patient trust in his/her provider, this significant
association has merit.