How Media Reports on Medical Violence Erode Clinician Trust in Patients

Abstract

Background: Violence against doctors is a common worldwide problem. Such risk events, due to the further exaggeration by media reports, trigger collective anxiety among medical staff. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), this study reveals how media portrayals erode clinician trust through amplified risk perception. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 211 healthcare professionals from medical institutions in Beijing using stratified random sampling. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural path analysis were performed on the sample data using structural equation modeling. Results: The “Pseudo-Environment” (symbolic reality) created by the media can significantly alter medical staff’s perceptions of violence risks, such as vulnerability to attack and becoming victims (P<0.05). In this “Pseudo-Environment” medical staff may overestimate the probability of violent incidents and the severity of their consequences, thereby significantly undermining doctor–patient trust. However, the perception of vulnerability has a more prominent impact on relational trust, possibly because patients are portrayed as potential threats in the “Pseudo-Environment”. Conclusion: Media reports can amplify risk perceptions among medical staff and lead to a substantial decline in doctor-patient trust. In order to enhance doctor-patient relationships, we should consider the sociopsychological effects of media reporting and strive to maintain trust when formulating relevant policies.