The American public holds generally favorable views of physicians, but there is widespread skepticism around issues of scientific integrity, according to new polling from the Pew Research Center.
The findings showed that 74% of respondents had an overall positive view of doctors, but that many had concerns regarding professional misconduct, conflicts of interest, or transparency in medicine.
Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel Professor of Public Health and Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in an August 5, 2019 Medscape article that the findings may reflect Americans’ dwindling trust in institutions.
“People think physicians who care for them are very good, but that doesn’t mean they trust their statements in debates over national health care,” said Blendon, who was not involved with the study.
Read the Medscape article: Most Patients Have Confidence in Doctors, but Skeptical About Conflicts