Theories of interpersonal trust have been explored in different settings,
including business, law, marriage, and other settings well before research emerged in
the healthcare environment. Trust is a global attribute of treatment relationships (Hall,
Dugan, Zheng, & Mishra, 2001). The historical phenomenon of physician trust,
demanding unquestionable trust and obedience from patients, have evolved into a
contemporary belief that physician trust needs to be proven and earned, an example of
which is the demonstration of medical qualification (Helsing, 1998